Personal Derived Health Information: A Foundation to Preparing the United States for Disasters and Public Health Emergencies

Abstract

<jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title><jats:p><jats:bold>Background:</jats:bold> In the days following a disaster/public health emergency, there is great effort to ensure that everyone receives appropriate care and lives are saved. However, evacuees following a disaster/public health emergency often lack access to personal health information that is vital to receive or maintain quality care. Delayed treatment and interruptions of medication regimens often contribute to excess morbidity and mortality following a disaster/public health emergency. This study sought to define a set of minimum health information elements that can be maintained in a personal health record (PHR) and given to first responders/receivers within the first 96 hours of a disaster/public health response to improve clinical health outcomes.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Methods:</jats:bold> A mixed methods approach of qualitative and quantitative data gathering and analyses was completed. Expert panel members (n = 116) and existing health information elements were sampled for this study; 55% (n = 64) of expert panel members had clinical credentials and determined the health information. From an initial set of six sources, a step-wise process using a Likert scale survey and thematic data analyses, including interrater reliability and validity checks, produced a set of minimum health information elements.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Results:</jats:bold> The results identified 30 essential elements from 676 existing health information elements, a reduction of approximately 95%. The elements were grouped into seven domains: identification, emergency contact, health care contact, health profile –past medical history, medication, major allergies/diet restrictions, and family information.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Conclusions:</jats:bold> Leading experts in clinical disaster preparedness identified a set of minimum health information elements that first responders/receivers must have to ensure appropriate and timely care. If this set of elements is used as the fundamental information for a PHR, and automatically updated and validated during clinical encounters and medication changes, it is conceivable that following large-scale disasters clinical outcomes may be improved and more lives may be saved.</jats:p><jats:p>(<jats:italic>Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness</jats:italic>. 2012;6:303-310)</jats:p>

Preparedness Training Programs for Working With Deaf and Hard of Hearing Communities and Older Adults: Lessons Learned From Key Informants and Literature Assessments

“…14,36 Improved personal and community resiliency will positively impact the ability of responders to help people who are Deaf and hard of hearing and older adults by having quick access to important information, such as the location of available hospital beds, pharmacies, and an individual's medical history. 29,30 This study was strengthened by containing perspectives of key informants who have worked in the preparedness field specifically with Deaf and hard of hearing or older adult populations and by discussing important communication preparedness training needs for people who are Deaf and hard of hearing, both within and outside of older adult communities. Study findings can be used to inform development or enhancement of preparedness training programs and emergency messaging for Deaf and hard of hearing persons and older adults, especially given the relative lack of published literature on this topic.…”

Defining, Describing, and Categorizing Public Health Infrastructure Priorities for Tropical Cyclone, Flood, Storm, Tornado, and Tsunami-Related Disasters

“…33,58 Surveillance Surveillance included assessment, monitoring, gathering health data, and health information systems. 26,28,37,38,40,43,49,54,64,68,80,82 Assessment referred to epidemiology and statistical analysis of data. 28,37,49 Monitoring included public health assessments to gather information and inform response and recovery operations.…”

Going Mobile: How Mobile Personal Health Records Can Improve Health Care During Emergencies

“…In a different study, authors note that “many of the putative financial benefits of PHRs only occur when PHRs are tightly integrated with EHRs, so that seed funding of PHRs in practices that operate an EHR might advance PHR adoption to the ‘tipping point’” [52]. Similarly, another study points out that having “a common language with patients and readily available health information allows health care providers the potential to not only save lives, but to reduce the impact of the financial burden on our health care system” [54]. …”