Novel Use of Telemedicine by Hurricane Evacuation Shelters

Many residents were housed in state evacuation shelters after Hurricane Florence struck North Carolina in 2018 and the authors sought to understand the in-person and telehealth emergency care services used by evacuees in two counties. Of the 93 telemedicine encounters, the average patient age was 49, close to 70% were female, and nearly half used the service to refill medication. Over 40% said they would have gone to an emergency department had telemedicine not been provided. The authors encourage similar research and the use of telemedicine in disaster shelters to alleviate pressure on emergency services and hospitals.