Developing an emergency preparedness strategy
It is essential to develop a strategy for using telehealth as part of emergency preparedness.
On this page:
Telehealth for specific emergency scenarios
Telehealth may be used in natural disasters, pandemics, or mass casualty events. Each emergency will pose a unique scenario. You should:
- Tailor telehealth services. Your planning should encompass the diverse ways you will handle a variety of crises.
- Consider logistics. Depending on the type of disaster or emergency you may need to deploy health services into areas with infrastructure damage. This will create a unique set of problems.
- Strategize. It is important to consider how to scale up telehealth services to meet needs.
Operational considerations
As part of developing an emergency preparedness strategy that includes telehealth, you should consider the logistics of telehealth services. This includes selecting suitable telehealth technologies. Specific steps may include:
- Mobilizing a workforce. You will want to ensure staff are properly trained and capable of delivering telehealth services.
- Determining your technology needs. Emergency preparedness requires identifying the specific telehealth technology needed depending on the type of emergency and patient population. Planning should include an evaluation of available telehealth platforms and hardware, such as computers, mobile devices, and cameras, to determine what is the most suitable. You will want to make sure your solution is scalable and easy to use. Low-tech and low-bandwidth options may be helpful for certain areas or during emergencies where there are or will be limited resources.
- Building a reliable network. Backup channels for communication, including when using telehealth, should be in place if networks fail during an emergency. This could include phone calls, text messaging, or deploying a mobile telehealth unit. This ensures that emergency workers are always connected and able to communicate.
- Taking privacy and security measures. It is important to safeguard sensitive information.
Integration with existing systems
It is helpful to integrate telehealth services into your workflow, if possible. This can facilitate communication and coordination during an emergency. Activities that support integration include:
- Electronic Health Record (EHR) integration and data sharing. EHR integration enables health care providers to access all information about a patient, including medical history, allergies, and current medications.
- Collaboration with local health care facilities. It is critical to outline each party's roles. Partners may co-develop joint training programs and workshops. These collaborations should include a network of health care providers to provide expertise and resources.
Clinical guidelines and protocols
It is important that patients with critical needs receive timely and appropriate care during emergencies. Providers should consider the following:
- Develop protocols for remote triage. Tele-triage uses technology to screen patients remotely and determine the patient’s condition and the care they need.
- Create guidelines for non-emergencies. You will want to ensure there are procedures in place for managing non-emergency appointments remotely.
Training and support
Training ensures that services are not interrupted and are accessible during crises. Training and support should include:
- Provider training programs. Training should include types of telehealth, how to troubleshoot common technical issues, and best practices for virtual patient interactions. Regular updates and continuous education are important to ensure that providers are familiar with, and proficient using, new technologies.
- Patient education and technical support. It is helpful to identify dedicated staff who can provide real-time support and help troubleshoot problems quickly.
Planning ahead
Telehealth systems must be "future-proofed" for use in emergencies. Key considerations include:
- Scalability and flexibility. The technology should be able to support many users, adapt to new medical protocols or rules, and allow for seamless updates and upgrades.
- Innovations and emerging technologies. It is important to build a system that can adapt to new developments in telehealth technologies.
More information:
Best practice guide: Privacy and security for telehealth — Health Resources and Services Administration
Finding a telehealth vendor — Health Resources and Services Administration
Planning your telehealth workflow — Health Resources and Services Administration
Preparing patients for telehealth — Health Resources and Services Administration
Tele-triage — Health Resources and Services Administration
Understanding telehealth technology options — Health Resources and Services Administration
Topic Collection: Virtual Medical Care — Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network — U.S. Army Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center
Preparedness and Response Toolkit for State Medicaid and CHIP Agencies in the Event of a Public Health Emergency or Disaster — Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Spotlight
The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) is a division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ASPR prepares for and responds to public health emergencies and disasters. ASPR also helps people who are recovering from these crises. ASPR promotes and supports integrating telehealth technologies into emergency response plans.
Learn more about ASPR’s telemedicine program.