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Hurricane Impact on Emergency Services and Use of Telehealth to Support Prehospital Care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 October 2019

David M. French*
Affiliation:
Medical University of South Carolina Department of Emergency Medicine, Charleston, South Carolina Charleston County Emergency Medical Services, Charleston, South Carolina
Greg A. Hall
Affiliation:
Medical University of South Carolina Department of Emergency Medicine, Charleston, South Carolina
Todd McGeorge
Affiliation:
Charleston County Emergency Medical Services, Charleston, South Carolina
Michael Haschker
Affiliation:
Medical University of South Carolina Center for Telehealth, Charleston, South Carolina
Joseph G. Brazeal
Affiliation:
Medical University of South Carolina Center for Telehealth, Charleston, South Carolina
Ragan Dubose-Morris
Affiliation:
Medical University of South Carolina Center for Telehealth, Charleston, South Carolina
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to David M. French, Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 169 Ashley Avenue, MSC 300 Room H265, Charleston, SC 29425 (e-mail: frenchda@musc.edu).

Abstract

The impact of hurricanes on emergency services is well-known. Recent history demonstrates the need for prehospital and emergency department coordination to serve communities during evacuation, storm duration, and cleanup. The use of telehealth applications may enhance this coordination while lessening the impact on health-care systems. These applications can address triage, stabilization, and diversion and may be provided in collaboration with state and local emergency management operations through various shelters, as well as during other emergency medical responses.

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
© 2019 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

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References

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