Citation

Gregory ME, Sonesh SC, Hughes AM, Marttos A, Schulman CI, Salas E. Disaster Med. Public Health Prep. 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Professor and Allyn R. & Gladys M. Cline Chair, Department of Psychological Sciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Publisher Cambridge University Press)

DOI

10.1017/dmp.2019.156

PMID

32019620

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study is to test an implementation and examine users' perceptions about the usefulness of telemedicine in mass casualty and disaster settings and to provide recommendations for using telemedicine in these settings.

METHODS: Ninety-two US Army Forward Surgical Team (FST) members participated in a high-fidelity mass casualty simulation at the Army Trauma Training Center (ATTC). Telemedicine was implemented into this simulation.

RESULTS: Only 10.9% of participants chose to use telemedicine. The most common users were surgeons and nurses. Participants believed it somewhat improved patient care, attainment of expert resources, decision-making, and adaptation, but not the timeliness of patient care. Participants reported several barriers to using telemedicine in the mass casualty setting, including (1) confusion around team roles, (2) time constraints, and (3) difficultly using in the mass casualty setting (eg, due to noise and other conditions).

CONCLUSIONS: There appear to be barriers to the use and usefulness of telemedicine in mass casualty and disaster contexts. Recommendations include designating a member to lead the use of telemedicine, providing telemedical resources whose benefits outweigh the perceived cost in lost time, and ensuring telemedicine systems are designed for the conditions inherent to mass casualty and disaster settings.

Language: en

Keywords

biodefence; bioterrorism; disaster planning; disasters; organizational decision-making