The Clinical Application of Mobile Technology to Disaster Medicine

Abstract

Mobile health care technology (mHealth) has the potential to improve communication and clinical information management in disasters. This study reviews the literature on health care and computing published in the past five years to determine the types and efficacy of mobile applications available to disaster medicine, along with lessons learned. Five types of applications are identified: (1) disaster scene management; (2) remote monitoring of casualties; (3) medical image transmission (teleradiology); (4) decision support applications; and (5) field hospital information technology (IT) systems. Most projects have not yet reached the deployment stage, but evaluation exercises show that mHealth should allow faster processing and transport of patients, improved accuracy of triage and better monitoring of unattended patients at a disaster scene. Deployments of teleradiology and field hospital IT systems to disaster zones suggest that mHealth can improve resource allocation and patient care. The key problems include suitability of equipment for use in disaster zones and providing sufficient training to ensure staff familiarity with complex equipment. Future research should focus on providing unbiased observations of the use of mHealth in disaster medicine.

mHealth in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…Two notable recorded instances in which mobile technologies (specifically field hospital IT systems and teleradiology) were implemented in actual disasters were the US military in Pakistan in response to the 2005 earthquake and the Israeli Defence Forces in response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Both cases showed that the electronic system in use helped with management of resources, identification and tracking of patients, and continuity of care and effective discharge [21]. …”

The Boston Marathon Bombings Mass Casualty Incident: One Emergency Department’s Information Systems Challenges and Opportunities

“…In addition, technology has the potential to improve disaster patient tracking, patient data acquisition and monitoring, communications, incident management, inventory management, and EMS-ED coordination. 3,25,26 Information tools for mass casualty incidents must be carefully evaluated and ideally incorporated into routine, daily workflows or drills so they are familiar to ED staff when needed urgently.…”

Leveraging mobile technology to reduce barriers to maternal, newborn and child health care: a contribution to the evidence base

“…This can be effective in reducing psychosocial barriers to certain health or medical treatments. Applications that promote shared transportation to town or city centers, or enable more timely connections to available vehicles, can also reduce physical access barriers (Case, Morrison & Vuylsteke, 2012). This can be particularly important for pregnant women in labor or ill children with rapidly deteriorating health conditions.…”