Use of Technology in Disaster Medicine

Based on a literature review of articles published between 2000-2023, the author examines how telemedicine, mobile health, and point-of-care ultrasound have been used in disaster scenarios. Telemedicine was found to boost communication, remote diagnostics, and coordination. Mobile health applications helped with patient tracking, triage, and resource allocation. Having point-of-care ultrasound allowed providers to make rapid diagnoses using portable, non-invasive tools. Challenges identified in the review included interoperability, unreliable communication networks, lack of training/support, and legal and ethical considerations.