Topic Collection Cover Page

Virtual Medical Care
Topic Collection
August 29, 2024

Topic Collection: Virtual Medical Care

The continuing increase in the use and capabilities of virtual medical care (also referred to as telemedicine, although care may be provided via telephone, web, or other means) has led many in the emergency medical  community to plan or implement call centers and web- or telephone-based triage and treatment systems in anticipation of and during public health emergencies. Additionally, health systems are using virtual platforms to coordinate care and provide remote access to specialty care and assessment (e.g., trauma, stroke, and psychiatric) which can be leveraged during disasters to broaden access to specialty consultation (e.g., for patients with burn injuries or pediatric patients). These resources highlight strategies for implementing virtual medical care during a disaster, including lessons learned from recent events.  

Each resource in this Topic Collection is placed into one or more of the following categories (click on the category name to be taken directly to that set of resources). Resources marked with an asterisk (*) appear in more than one category. Additional information can be found in the following Topic Collections: Influenza Epidemic/ Pandemic; Natural Disasters; SARS/MERS; and Utility Failures.

 

Must Reads


American Association of Family Physicians. (2021). Telehealth and Telemedicine.
This webpage provides an overview of key issues related to telemedicine for physicians to reference, including: how to locate resources to support the implementation of telemedicine; how telehealth resource centers can assist providers; legal, regulatory, and licensure issues; and reimbursement issues.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Bogdan, G., Scherger, D., Seroka, A., et al. (2007). Adapting Community Call Centers for Crisis Support: A Model for Home-Based Care and Monitoring. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The authors explain the development, testing, and implementation of a model to enable community health call centers (e.g., poison control centers, nurse advice lines) to support home-management and shelter-in-place approaches in certain mass casualty or health emergency events. The report includes a matrix with possible call center capabilities aligned with National Planning Scenarios and other guidance that can be tailored by call centers.
Favorite:
1
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
This well-organized issue brief highlights how telehealth is being used in disaster preparedness and response and summarizes the challenges and potential solutions associated with this mechanism of healthcare delivery.
Favorite:
1
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. (2021). Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.
This webpage provides information on the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, an agreement between 29 states, the District of Columbia and the Territory of Guam, where physicians are licensed by 43 different Medical and Osteopathic Boards. Under this agreement licensed physicians can qualify to practice medicine across state lines within the Compact if they meet the agreed upon eligibility requirements.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. (2009). Coordinating Call Centers for Responding to Pandemic Influenza and Other Public Health Emergencies: A Workbook for State and Local Planners. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This workbook guides planners through the process of determining the need for a call center, as well as how to operationalize a call center during public health emergencies.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
The author proposes 3 steps for telemedicine disaster preparedness: Acknowledge telemedicine as a Standard of Care; establish tools and workflows before disaster strikes; and form partnerships between public and private organizations.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
The authors describe the successful use of a telephone nurse triage line (NTL) set up by the Minnesota Department of Health for evaluating individuals with influenza-like illness and tele-prescribing of anti-virals. The NTL diverted callers from acute care visits at low cost and had a high rate of satisfaction among callers.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
This collaborative resource was created “to provide an overview and framework for implementing telehealth in critical access hospitals and rural areas.” It includes a listing of research related to telehealth and outcomes, and lessons learned and best practices from organizations that successfully implemented telehealth programs and contributed to this document.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
The University of New Mexico School of Medicine. (2016). Project ECHO.
The Extension for Community Health Outcomes (known as Project ECHO) was created to help healthcare providers in rural and underserved areas with information they need to treat conditions such as Hepatitis C, chronic pain, and behavioral health disorders. In the event of a disaster, one or more of ECHO's "hubs" could assist with virtual healthcare education and consultation / provider collaboration.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments

Applications for Telemedicine


* Birdsall, J., Lind, L., and Lane, J. (2020). How to Provide Telehealth in Nursing Homes. American Psychological Association.
This article describes practical tips about how to provide psychological services to older adults living in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Case, T., Morrison, C., and Vuylsteke, A. (2012). The Clinical Application of Mobile Technology to Disaster Medicine. (Abstract only.) Prehospital and Disaster Medicine. 27(5):473-80.
The authors conducted a literature review covering 2007-2012 to identify mobile health care technology solutions to aid in disaster management. They found five types of applications: disaster scene management; remote monitoring of casualties; medical image transmission (teleradiology); decision support applications; and field hospital information technology (IT) systems, most of which were still under development at the time of their review.
Favorite:
3
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Parvizi, D., Giretzlehner , M., Dirnberger, J., et al. (2014). The Use of Telemedicine in Burn Care: Development of a Mobile System for TBSA Documentation and Remote Assessment. Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters. 27(2):94-100.
The authors describe a mobile application that uses digital images of patients' burns superimposed on a patient-specific 3D model. The application was found to more accurately estimate burn size than burn experts when tested at two separate international burn meetings.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
* Xiong, W., Bair, A., and Sandrock, C. (2010). Implementing Telemedicine in Medical Emergency Response: Concept of Operation for a Regional Telemedicine Hub. Journal of Medical Systems. 36(3): 1651-1660.
The authors developed and measured a model application in order to quantitatively analyze the potential health benefits of telemedicine in disaster response. They found that the model can support disaster response activities and enhance surge capacity; enhance the speed and effectiveness of medical response; and improve resource and operations planning, as well as internal and external situational awareness.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
The authors tested an in-ambulance telemedicine system and found that pre-hospital diagnoses were in agreement with final diagnoses 90% of the time; pre-notification of the hospital via text message was successful 90% of the time; and transmission of a pre-hospital report was completed 95% of the time. Challenges experienced were related primarily to limited connectivity, but also to hardware, software, or human error.
Favorite:
1
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments

Call Centers and Triage Lines


Adhikari, B.B., Koonin, L.M., Mugambi, M.L., et al. (2018). Estimating Weekly Call Volume to a National Nurse Telephone Triage Line in an Influenza Pandemic. (Abstract only.) Health Security. 16(5):334-340.
The authors developed a Call Volume Projection Tool to estimate national call volume to Flu on Call® during an influenza pandemic. They extrapolated data from the 2009 experience of the Minnesota FluLine (during the H1N1pandemic) and applied it to a 20% attack rate, and case hospitalization rates from the 1968 and 1957 pandemics, respectively, to provide an estimated national weekly call volume.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
* Bogdan, G., Scherger, D., Seroka, A., et al. (2007). Adapting Community Call Centers for Crisis Support: A Model for Home-Based Care and Monitoring. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The authors explain the development, testing, and implementation of a model to enable community health call centers (e.g., poison control centers, nurse advice lines) to support home-management and shelter-in-place approaches in certain mass casualty or health emergency events. The report includes a matrix with possible call center capabilities aligned with National Planning Scenarios and other guidance that can be tailored by call centers.
Favorite:
1
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Fernandez, J.B., Glotzer, D.L., Triola, M.M., and Psoter, W.J. (2008). A Unique Role for Dental School Faculty: Telephone Triage Training and Integration into a Health Departments' Emergency Response Planning. American Journal of Disaster Medicine. 3(3):141-6.
The authors describe a pilot program in which dental school faculty members received training in outbreak investigation and telephone triage to assist the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in preparing to respond to pandemic influenza. They propose the use of dental professionals and/or other "nontraditional healthcare personnel" in support of call centers and telephone triage lines.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
* Kelly, M. (2018). DC’s New 911 Nurse Triage Program. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 72(4): A15–A17.
This article discusses the successes and challenges experienced by Washington DC since integrating triage nurses into its 911 Call Center in April 2018. Logistical, medical, and financial (including insurance) considerations are presented, and may assist other jurisdictions in developing a similar model, which could support disaster response and recovery through efficient management of ambulance services.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Koonin, L. and Hanfling, D. (2013). Broadening Access to Medical Care During a Severe Influenza Pandemic: The CDC Nurse Triage Line Project. Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science. 11(1):75-80.
The authors describe the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Nurse Triage Line Project and its goals of using a coordinated network of nurse triage telephone lines during a pandemic to assess the health status of callers, help callers determine the most appropriate site for care, disseminate information, provide clinical advice, and provide access to antiviral medications to those who need it.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
National Association of County and City Health Officials. (2017). Flu on Call: Increasing Access to Care and Treatment during Pandemic Influenza.
This webpage includes information about Flu on Call®, an initiative modeled on successful statewide projects that were implemented during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic to establish a national network of telephone help lines designed for use during a severe influenza pandemic. Links to a toolkit, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and relevant publications are included.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
* Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. (2009). Coordinating Call Centers for Responding to Pandemic Influenza and Other Public Health Emergencies: A Workbook for State and Local Planners. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This workbook guides planners through the process of determining the need for a call center, as well as how to operationalize a call center during public health emergencies.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Russi, C.S., Beuning, A.J., Powell, R.S. et al. (2018). The Impact on Emergency Department Visits With a Telemedicine Program Interfacing With a Nurse Triage Call Line. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 72(4): S116–S117.
The authors discuss a 3-week observational study they conducted to determine outcomes from a triage protocol that had an emergency medicine physician consult with a triage line nurse, or with a patient directly, when the triage line nurse determined from call line disposition algorithms that a patient should be seen in the Emergency Department (ED). They concluded that this model could safely mitigate some unnecessary ED usage.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Spaulding, A., Radi, D., Macleod, H., et al. (2012). Design and Implementation of a Statewide Influenza Nurse Triage Line in Response to Pandemic H1N1 Influenza. Public Health Reports. 127(5): 532-540.
The Minnesota Department of Health developed several tools to support healthcare providers during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, including MN FluLine, a nurse triage line, that reached many rural and uninsured residents, and, according to the authors, may have prevented up to 11,000 in-person health-care encounters.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
The authors describe the successful use of a telephone nurse triage line (NTL) set up by the Minnesota Department of Health for evaluating individuals with influenza-like illness and tele-prescribing of anti-virals. The NTL diverted callers from acute care visits at low cost and had a high rate of satisfaction among callers.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
The University of New Mexico School of Medicine. (2016). Project ECHO.
The Extension for Community Health Outcomes (known as Project ECHO) was created to help healthcare providers in rural and underserved areas with information they need to treat conditions such as Hepatitis C, chronic pain, and behavioral health disorders. In the event of a disaster, one or more of ECHO's "hubs" could assist with virtual healthcare education and consultation / provider collaboration.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
The author proposes bringing together the expertise of emergency response organizations, public health agencies, and poison control centers to institute call centers and/or triage lines to disseminate information to the public during emergencies, and answer questions and concerns to keep concerned individuals from flooding local emergency rooms. Real-world examples of successful collaborations from Canada, Great Britain, and the U.S. are included.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments

Event-Specific Lessons Learned


This tip sheet describes the use of telehealth and how it has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the full report, access https://files.asprtracie.hhs.gov/documents/aspr-tracie-covid-19-and-telehealth.pdf.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Denver Health is a Level 1 Trauma Center and Urban Safety Net hospital with 550 beds and nine federally qualified community health centers located throughout the city. Before the pandemic, the hospital had 227 adult medical surgery/critical care beds, 47 were intensive care unit (ICU)-level beds, and 12 were intermediate care beds. They ran near or at capacity and often experienced adult emergency department boarding. Patrick Ryan, MD, MPH, and Connie Savor Price, MD (from Denver Health and the University of Colorado School of Medicine) shared their experiences creating the “Virtual Hospital at Home” model to manage the significant surge in COVID-19 patients in the fall of 2020.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
BlueCross and BlueShield of Texas. (2018). What BCBSTX Learned From Hurricane Harvey Insurance Claims.
BlueCross BlueShield of Texas reviewed member claims for the 6 months post-Harvey and compared them to the same time period the previous year and found that “many people turned to technology in the form of telemedicine for the first time.” There was a rise in mental and physical health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as infectious and parasitic diseases post-Harvey. The claims data also showed an increase in substance abuse, pneumonia and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
This article discusses key findings from the 2018 Usher-Pines, et al. paper, which analyzed the experiences of Doctor on Demand in the weeks following Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in 2017. Study data showed that use of the service peaked three to six days after the hurricanes made landfall, with patients seeking treatment for “chronic conditions, advice, counseling and refills, and back and joint concerns, including injuries.” Notably, referral rates for in-person care were in line with those seen in telemedicine during non-emergency times.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
This resource is a transcript from an interview discussing the use of a specific telemedicine system to provide medical care after Hurricane Harvey. It includes a good characterization of the types of nonemergency medical needs a community may have after a disaster, as well as the role telemedicine can play in response.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Der-Martirosian, C., Chu, C., Griffin, A., and Dobalian, A. (2018). Telehealth at the US Department of Veterans Affairs after Hurricane Sandy. (Free registration required.) Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare.
This paper identifies the types of Veterans Affairs telehealth services used following Hurricane Sandy (2012) during the 7 months the Manhattan Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and examines the patient characteristics of those users. The most commonly used telehealth services included those for primary care, triage, mental health, home health, and ancillary services.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Glatter, R., Platt, S., and Pagan, N. (2018). How Telemedicine Can Improve Our Disaster Response.
The presenters in this 17-minute video discuss New York Presbyterian Hospital’s experience leveraging its telemedicine program to bring specialty consultation to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017. They discuss the lessons learned from their experience, which include allowing for time to obtain necessary regulatory approvals, and having the needed equipment and connectivity to successfully establish a telemedicine program to support a disaster-stricken area.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Grielsamer, A. (2018). VHA’s Telehealth Emergency Medicine Uses Holiday to Test Systems, Prepare for Emergency Responses. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VAntage Point.
The VA’s Telehealth Emergency Medicine team exercised its signal strength capabilities during the July 4th, 2018 holiday on the National Mall to demonstrate how VA technologies could be used during an emergency. This exercise could serve as a reference for other entities when developing testing plans for their respective telemedicine systems.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
This well-organized issue brief highlights how telehealth is being used in disaster preparedness and response and summarizes the challenges and potential solutions associated with this mechanism of healthcare delivery.
Favorite:
1
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
This article reviews findings from the 2018 Uscher-Pines study that looked at telemedicine use by individuals affected by hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Notably, diagnosis codes for the first 7 days of the study were consistent with those for the remaining study days—31% of patients presented with acute respiratory issues, while 8% had rash and dry skin concerns. In addition, researchers found that 63% of patients were new telemedicine users, and that most accessed the service between days 3 and 6 post-disaster.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Hofmeyer, J., Leider, J., Satorius, J., et al. (2016). Implementation of Telemedicine Consultation to Assess Unplanned Transfers in Rural Long-Term Care Facilities, 2012–2015: A Pilot Study. (Abstract only.) The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. 17(11): 1006–1010.
The authors describe the development of a telemedicine approach to assess residents from rural long-term care facilities for potential (costly) ransfer to hospitals. The pilot test was promising, as it reduced stress levels and costs associated with transfers.
Favorite:
1
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Kim, T.J., Arrieta, M.I., Eastburn S.L., et al. (2013). Post-disaster Gulf Coast Recovery Using Telehealth. Telemedicine Journal and E-Health. 19(3):200-10.
The authors, whose work focuses on telemedicine to meet post-disaster mental health needs, conducted semi structured interviews with both regional key informants and national organizations with Gulf Coast recovery interests and determined seven factors for telehealth success: funding, regulatory, workflow, attitudes, personnel, technology, and evaluation. Included in this resource is also a discussion of prior research conducted on the use of telemental health services.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Lurie, N. and Carr, B. (2018). The Role of Telehealth in the Medical Response to Disasters. (Abstract only.) JAMA Internal Medicine. 178(6):745-746.
The authors discuss the use and role of telehealth and how different modalities can be used to help manage disaster-related health effects.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Meehan, T. (2018). Applying Telehealth to Natural Disasters. Health Recovery Solution.
This article discusses telehealth use during past emergencies and disasters, including blizzard and loss of power by Massachusetts General Hospital in 2014 (wound imaging for follow-up of post-operative patients and general maintenance of appointments for patients with chronic illness), and Hurricane Ike in 2008 (wound imaging and video messaging for bites from bees, fire ants, or mosquitoes, wounds or rashes, and skin infections from contaminated floodwaters). It also reviews how telehealth can help with chronic disease monitoring and prescription refills following mass evacuations, and how it could support 911 triage and ambulance deployment.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Mohr, N., Young T., Harland, K., et al. (2019). Emergency Department Telemedicine Shortens Rural Time-To-Provider and Emergency Department Transfer Times. (Abstract only.) Telemedicine Journal and E-Health. 24(8):582-593.
The authors reviewed incidents where 2,857 of 127,928 qualifying emergency department (ED) encounters consulted telemedicine. They found that telemedicine decreases ED door-to-provider time and length of stay, and they emphasize the need for future research on the impact of telemedicine in rural areas.
Favorite:
1
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Park, B., Raegen, C., Caflisch, S., and Granovsky, M. (2019). Hurricane Florence and the Use of Telemedicine. ACEP Now.
In 2018, Hurricane Florence forced thousands to evacuate their homes in Wake County, NC. Six shelters were set up and a local telemedicine firm staffed them. Of the 95 patients seen over a 10 day period, nine were sent to the emergency room for further evaluation. Eighty percent reported that they would have gone to the emergency room had they not been cared for by a telemedicine provider.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Piza, F., Steinman, M., Baldisserotto, S., et al. (2014). Is There a Role for Telemedicine in Disaster Medicine? Critical Care. 18(6): 646.
The authors describe the successful use of a telemedicine videoconferencing system to treat patients following a 2013 nightclub fire in Brazil.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
This press release describes the findings of the 2018 Uscher-Pines, et al. report, “The Role of Direct-to-Consumer Telemedicine in Caring for People Impacted by Natural Disasters.” Specifically, the study found that the most frequent diagnoses during the first month post-hurricane included acute respiratory illnesses and skin problems, and “during the first week post-hurricane, telemedicine visits for chronic conditions, advice, counseling and refills, and back and joint concerns, including injuries, were more common among people affected by the hurricanes than among the other patients treated by the service.”
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Reeves, J., Pageler, N., Wick, E., et al. (2021). The Clinical Information Systems Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Yearbook of Medical Informatics. 30(1): 105-125.
In this literature review, the authors described how clinical information systems (CIS) (e.g., electronic health records, telehealth, artificial intelligence and machine learning, geographic information systems, digital contact tracing) were used during the pandemic to support the response. CIS contributed greatly to the effective distribution of information, provision of patient care, and global response to the pandemic.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
This article describes how the University of Virginia used telehealth to support communication with patients in isolation, as well as to allow health care professionals in PPE to visually consult with physicians back in the United States without having to doff their PPE.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
During Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath in 2017, Harris County, Texas public health staff reached out to tuberculosis (TB) patients via mobile phone, landline or text messages to patients via its telemedicine application (app) to support medication compliance. Patients were given a month’s worth of medication prior to the storm, and asked to upload videos of themselves taking their medication through the app.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
The authors describe the successful use of a telephone nurse triage line (NTL) set up by the Minnesota Department of Health for evaluating individuals with influenza-like illness and tele-prescribing of anti-virals. The NTL diverted callers from acute care visits at low cost and had a high rate of satisfaction among callers.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Spitzer, J. (2017). Telemedicine Interest Surges During Hurricane Irma. Becker’s Hospital Review.
The author discusses patient demand for telehealth services from 2 Florida hospitals during Hurricane Irma in 2017. One saw a 554% increase in installation of its telemedicine application, and the other had more than 2,700 patients sign up over a 3-day period.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
This collaborative resource was created “to provide an overview and framework for implementing telehealth in critical access hospitals and rural areas.” It includes a listing of research related to telehealth and outcomes, and lessons learned and best practices from organizations that successfully implemented telehealth programs and contributed to this document.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Tintinalli, J. (2018). From the Front Lines of Hurricane Florence. Emergency Physicians Monthly.
The second story in this article discusses how telemedicine was implemented in shelters following hurricane Florence in 2018 to provide care, order prescriptions, and minimize transport to emergency departments (EDs). Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Branch Directors were assigned to each shelter, all of which had iPads to connect with the telemedicine application used by a local hospital ED, with power and internet service provided through generators and portable WiFi units.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Uscher-Pines, L., Fischer, S.H., Tong, I., et al. (2018). Virtual First Responders: The Role of Direct-to-Consumer Telemedicine in Caring for People Impacted by Natural Disasters. (Abstract only.) Journal of General Internal Medicine. 33(8): 1242-1244.
The authors analyzed administrative data from Doctor on Demand in the 30 days following Hurricanes Harvey and Irma (August–September 2017) to characterize post-disaster telemedicine use. Use peaked on days 4-6 after landfall and 63% of the patients were first-time users.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Van Oeveren, L., Donner, J., Fantegrossi, A., et al. (2017). Telemedicine-Assisted Intubation in Rural Emergency Departments: A National Emergency Airway Registry Study. (Abstract only.) Telemedicine Journal and E-Health. 23(4):290-297.
The authors reviewed data on 206 patients who had an intubation attempt while on a video telemedicine link from May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2015. The success rate (96%) matched those of large-center studies.
Favorite:
1
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Vo, A.H., Brooks, G.B., Bourdeau, M., et al. (2010). University of Texas Medical Branch Telemedicine Disaster Response and Recovery: Lessons Learned from Hurricane Ike. (Abstract only.) Telemedicine and E Health. 16(5): 627-633.
Authors from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) describe how UTMB was able to get its telemedicine services up and running within a week following Hurricane Ike due in part to the flexibility of its data network and plasticity of its telemedicine program. They offer lessons learned from the UTMB experience for future disasters.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Weigel, P., Merchant, K., Wittrock, A. et al. (2019). Paediatric Tele-emergency Care: A Study of Two Delivery Models. (Abstract only.) Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare.
The authors examined two types of tele-emergency department (ED) pediatric programs (specialized and general) to determine how "tele-ED models have implications for evaluative measures."
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Wong Samson, L., Tarazi, W., Turrini, G., and Sheingold, S. (2021). Medicare Beneficiaries' Use of Telehealth in 2020: Trends by Beneficiary Characteristics and Location. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
This report analyzes changes in telehealth usage among Medicare beneficiaries early in the COVID-19 pandemic, including the effects of increased flexibilities available during the public health emergency.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
The author proposes bringing together the expertise of emergency response organizations, public health agencies, and poison control centers to institute call centers and/or triage lines to disseminate information to the public during emergencies, and answer questions and concerns to keep concerned individuals from flooding local emergency rooms. Real-world examples of successful collaborations from Canada, Great Britain, and the U.S. are included.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Yu, J.N., Brock, T.K., Mecozzi, D.M., et al. (2010). Future Connectivity for Disaster and Emergency Point of Care. Point of Care. 9(4):185-192.
Using experience from the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the authors discuss the need to ensure that networks are properly constructed and wireless connectivity is robust to optimize health care delivery, medical documentation, logistics, response coordination, communication, and telemedicine during disasters.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments

General Information


Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. (2020). Telehealth for Community-Based Organizations Webinar Series. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
This webpage provides links to the “Telehealth for Community-Based Organizations Webinars” developed by ASPR's At-Risk Individuals Program. This three-part series focuses on implementing telehealth services to address the access and functional needs of at-risk individuals in partnership with HUD during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
American Association of Family Physicians. (2021). Telehealth and Telemedicine.
This webpage provides an overview of key issues related to telemedicine for physicians to reference, including: how to locate resources to support the implementation of telemedicine; how telehealth resource centers can assist providers; legal, regulatory, and licensure issues; and reimbursement issues.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
* American Medical Association. (2022). Telehealth Implementation Playbook *.
During a pandemic, healthcare facilities may need telehealth/medicine capabilities. Telehealth policies help to prevent potential exposure in the workplace, thus limiting the impact to the health of the healthcare workforce. This guide is a resource for administrators to initiate those capabilities.
Favorite:
1
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
American Physical Therapy Association. (2020). Digital Health in Practice. (Added 4/24/2020.) (Log in required.)
This page includes resources related to the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies for remote healthcare services and information. Resources include information on establishing and managing telehealth services, free courses and webinars, updates on the effects of recent legislation and regulations on telehealth services, handouts, and various articles and links.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Association of State and Territorial Health Officers. (2019). Guide for Implementing a Telehealth Program.
This guide includes background information on telehealth and its different modalities, telehealth legislation and regulation at the federal and state level, and considerations for developing a telehealth pilot. Case studies on how ten states are using telehealth to improve health outcomes in their jurisdictions are included.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Atiyeh, B., Dibo, S.A., and Janom, H.H. (2014). Telemedicine and Burns: An Overview. Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters. 27(2):87-93.
The authors discuss the use of telemedicine to bring the specialized expertise of burn centers to more patients. They also describe its challenges, including technical difficulties, legal uncertainties, limited financial support, reimbursement issues, and the need for more evidence of its value and efficiency.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
* Birdsall, J., Lind, L., and Lane, J. (2020). How to Provide Telehealth in Nursing Homes. American Psychological Association.
This article describes practical tips about how to provide psychological services to older adults living in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
This presentation, created for the Washington Association of Medical Staff Services, discusses The Joint Commission (TJC) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) standards with regard to credentialing and privileging telehealth providers, as well as common pitfalls and best practices related to credentialing and privileging for telehealth.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Center for Care Innovations. (2021). Telemedicine for Health Equity Toolkit.
This toolkit provides information and guidance for safety-net healthcare systems seeking to initiate, expand, or improve their telemedicine programs in equitable ways.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2023). List of Telehealth Services.
This resource discusses the list of services payable under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule when furnished via telehealth for coverage years 2018 and 2019.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Doarn, C., Latifi, R., Poropatich, R., et al. (2018). Development and Validation of Telemedicine for Disaster Response: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization Multinational System. (Abstract only.) Telemedicine and e-Health.
This report describes the Multinational Telemedicine System (MnTS) for disaster response, developed by subject matter experts from Europe and the U.S.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Edison, K. (n.d.). Adopting Telemedicine in Practice. (Accessed 12/9/2019.)
This e-learning module reviews: how to select a telemedicine service model; steps to determine the technology and support needed while following all applicable privacy, state, and federal laws; and practice guidelines to initiate a telemedicine service model.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
This well-organized issue brief highlights how telehealth is being used in disaster preparedness and response and summarizes the challenges and potential solutions associated with this mechanism of healthcare delivery.
Favorite:
1
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
The author presents a rationale for locating telemedicine data centers below ground to limit the potential for operational disruption during natural disasters.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Johnson, A. (2019). Telehealth: The Beginner’s Guide to Legal Pitfalls. Frost, Brown, Todd, LLC.
This article discusses key legal considerations for providers to consider in their provision of telehealth services. Specifically, it discusses: the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law; the Corporate Practice of Medicine Doctrine; and scope of practice and licensure issues.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Latifi, R. (2010). Telemedicine for Trauma, Emergencies, and Disaster Management. (Book available for purchase.)
This book discusses the use of telemedicine in the management of trauma, disaster, and emergency situations. Critical discussions on the practicality, logistics, and safety of telemedicine from recognized experts in the field are included.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Latifi, R. and Tilley, E. H. (2014). Telemedicine for Disaster Management: Can it Transform Chaos into an Organized, Structured Care From the Distance? (Abstract only.) American Journal of Disaster Medicine,9(1): 25-37.
The authors conducted a literature review covering 1980-2013 to identify when telemedicine or telepresence was reported for disaster management, both in real life and in mock and simulation situations. They concluded that it is critical to establish telemedicine infrastructure and protocols in areas prone to disasters prior to an event occurring to avoid having to establish a telemedicine program in a chaotic environment.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Lopez, A. (2014). Treatment of Ebola in the Digital Age. Arizona Telemedicine Program.
The author presents strategies for preventing Ebola disease transmission through the use of telemedicine. Specifically, she discusses a national Ebola hotline to triage at-risk cases; using Bluetooth digital monitoring for high-risk suspect cases without symptoms; video enabled ambulance transfers; and an electronic ICU set up that minimizes exposure of live caregivers. Similar strategies could be applied to the management of other emerging infectious disease outbreaks.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
This document provides best practices and technical requirements for video-based platforms and apps.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Simmons, S., Alverson, D., Poropatich, R., et al. (2008). Applying Telehealth in Natural and Anthropogenic Disasters. (Abstract only.) Telemedicine Journal and E-Health. 14(9):968-71.
The authors discuss how telehealth provides surge capacity by providing medical and public health expertise at a distance, limiting safety and logistical concerns. They note several applications for telehealth in disaster response, and propose ways to expand its use more broadly in future.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
The author proposes 3 steps for telemedicine disaster preparedness: Acknowledge telemedicine as a Standard of Care; establish tools and workflows before disaster strikes; and form partnerships between public and private organizations.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
State of Florida, Telehealth Advisory Council. (2017). Expanding Florida’s Use and Accessibility of Telehealth.
Though written for the state of Florida, the analysis and recommendations related to the 6 topic areas for potential expansion of telemedicine services (defining telehealth; health insurance coverage; reimbursement for telehealth; health care practitioner licensure; patient/consumer protections; and technology) may be valuable to planners in other jurisdictions as they develop or expand their respective telemedicine programs in support of disaster response.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Telequality Communications. (2018). Beginner’s Guide to Telehealth Reimbursement.
This blog reviews key aspects of billing for telehealth reimbursement, including considerations related to Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
This collaborative resource was created “to provide an overview and framework for implementing telehealth in critical access hospitals and rural areas.” It includes a listing of research related to telehealth and outcomes, and lessons learned and best practices from organizations that successfully implemented telehealth programs and contributed to this document.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Turnock, M., Mastouri, N., and Jivraj, A. (2008). Pre-hospital Application of Telemedicine in Acute-Onset Disaster Situations. United Nations.
This paper describes the use of telemedicine in the pre-hospital setting for disaster response. The authors discuss telemedicine disaster applications and technology, as well as implementation barriers and legal and ethical issues.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
This report to Congress discusses telehealth and its potential uses during public health emergencies and disaster medical responses. Payment and reimbursement considerations, as well as pertinent legal issues, are included.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center. (n.d.). Resources. (Accessed 11/7/2019.)
This webpage includes links to resources to assist healthcare facilities with developing telemedicine programs. Included are: a business plan template; a fact sheet that discusses services for Medicare beneficiaries; links to archived webinars; and a report that discusses coverage of, and payment for, telemedicine. (Users can choose resources from tabs located on the left of the page.)
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Uscher-Pines, L., Fischer, S., and Chari, R. (2016). The Promise of Direct-to-Consumer Telehealth for Disaster Response and Recovery. Pre-Hospital and Disaster Medicine. 31(4):454-6.
This resource discusses several potential uses of Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) telehealth across the acute response, subacute response, and recovery phase of a disaster, and reviews the logistical, legal, and policy challenges that must be addressed to allow for expanded use.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
VSee. (n.d.). What is Telehealth? (Accessed 11/11/2019.)
This resource includes a comprehensive overview of telemedicine, including content that discusses benefits and shortcomings of telemedicine; applications for telemedicine; regulations and reimbursement considerations; and barriers to telemedicine and associated solutions.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
* Xiong, W., Bair, A., and Sandrock, C. (2010). Implementing Telemedicine in Medical Emergency Response: Concept of Operation for a Regional Telemedicine Hub. Journal of Medical Systems. 36(3): 1651-1660.
The authors developed and measured a model application in order to quantitatively analyze the potential health benefits of telemedicine in disaster response. They found that the model can support disaster response activities and enhance surge capacity; enhance the speed and effectiveness of medical response; and improve resource and operations planning, as well as internal and external situational awareness.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare & Coronavirus. (Accessed 3/12/2020.)
This web page provides general information on COVID-19 and lists what is covered by Medicare, including "virtual check-ins."
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2018). ACO Next Generation Model Telehealth Waiver Frequently Asked Questions.
This document provides frequently asked questions and answers related to the Telehealth Expansion Waiver. The first section includes questions around waiver policy, and the second section describes questions around data submission requirements.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2018). List of Telehealth Services.
This resource discusses the list of services payable under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule when furnished via telehealth for coverage years 2018 and 2019.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
This article explains how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have worked to enable virtual check-ins and related services possible since 2019. This can be especially helpful during an infectious disease outbreak.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2021). Telehealth Services.
This short guide discusses the following in the context of reimbursable services: originating sites; distant site practitioners; telehealth services; billing and payment for professional services furnished via telehealth; and billing and payment for the originating site facility fee. It also includes a resource listing.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2021). Telehealth Services.
This guidance document is geared towards Medicare Fee-For-Service Providers. It highlights the sites that are eligible for Medicare-covered "specific (Part B) physician or practitioner services furnished through a telecommunications system. Telehealth services substitute for an in-person encounter."
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
This article provides a general overview of limitations in state laws that may create liability associated with the delivery of behavioral health services through telehealth technology.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Ferrante, T. and Lacktman, N. (2018). Top 5 Ways Telehealth Will Change Under the New Federal Funding Bill. Foley & Lardner, LLP.
The authors discuss the implications for practice following the passage of new telehealth-related legislation in February of 2018.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Gonzalez, G. (2018). Telemedicine Expands Care, Adds Exposures. Business Insurance.
This resource discusses the increased potential for medical malpractice risks, cyber risks, and challenges related to regulatory and legal exposures stemming from telemedicine use as technology has outpaced laws and regulations that govern healthcare practice.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. (2021). Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.
This webpage provides information on the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, an agreement between 29 states, the District of Columbia and the Territory of Guam, where physicians are licensed by 43 different Medical and Osteopathic Boards. Under this agreement licensed physicians can qualify to practice medicine across state lines within the Compact if they meet the agreed upon eligibility requirements.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
* Kelly, M. (2018). DC’s New 911 Nurse Triage Program. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 72(4): A15–A17.
This article discusses the successes and challenges experienced by Washington DC since integrating triage nurses into its 911 Call Center in April 2018. Logistical, medical, and financial (including insurance) considerations are presented, and may assist other jurisdictions in developing a similar model, which could support disaster response and recovery through efficient management of ambulance services.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Roberts, S. (2018). ASHRM Whitepaper – Telemedicine: Risk Management Considerations. American Society for Health Care Risk Management.
This resources is a detailed review of the ASHRM Telemedicine Whitepaper (which users must log into ASHRM to obtain), which provides a general overview of telemedicine, and discusses the potential risks of telemedicine under a risk management framework provided by ASHRM.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
This report to Congress discusses telehealth and its potential uses during public health emergencies and disaster medical responses. Payment and reimbursement considerations, as well as pertinent legal issues, are included.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments

Plans, Tools, and Templates


* American Medical Association. (2022). Telehealth Implementation Playbook *.
During a pandemic, healthcare facilities may need telehealth/medicine capabilities. Telehealth policies help to prevent potential exposure in the workplace, thus limiting the impact to the health of the healthcare workforce. This guide is a resource for administrators to initiate those capabilities.
Favorite:
1
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
* Bogdan, G., Scherger, D., Seroka, A., et al. (2007). Adapting Community Call Centers for Crisis Support: A Model for Home-Based Care and Monitoring. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The authors explain the development, testing, and implementation of a model to enable community health call centers (e.g., poison control centers, nurse advice lines) to support home-management and shelter-in-place approaches in certain mass casualty or health emergency events. The report includes a matrix with possible call center capabilities aligned with National Planning Scenarios and other guidance that can be tailored by call centers.
Favorite:
1
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Medical Office Telephone Evaluation of Patients with Possible Influenza. (Accessed 11/7/2019.) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
This flowchart can aid medical staff in triaging calls. The tool may identify high-risk patients for consideration of initiation of antiviral treatment prior to an office visit.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
National Association of County and City Health Officials. (2017). The Flu on Call® Infographic.
This infographic reviews the Flu on Call® triage process. Free log-in to the NACCHO toolbox is required.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
* Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. (2009). Coordinating Call Centers for Responding to Pandemic Influenza and Other Public Health Emergencies: A Workbook for State and Local Planners. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This workbook guides planners through the process of determining the need for a call center, as well as how to operationalize a call center during public health emergencies.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments

Agencies and Organizations


American Hospital Association. Telehealth.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers. Telehealth Resources.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
The GW Medical Faculty Associates. Telemedicine.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. Telehealth Programs.
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
Favorite:
You must Login to add a comment
  • This item doesn't have any comments
footer

Enter your email address to receive important announcements and updates through the ASPR TRACIE Listserv.