1. The First Statewide Implementation of a Regional Disaster Teleconsultation System to Expand Critical Care Surge Capacity: A Case Study in Vermont.
- Author
-
Boyle, Tehnaz P., Mehra, Ashley, Smith, Nathanael J., Subramanian, Sanjay, Leeber, James, McMahon, Maureen, Green, Devon, Perry, Sarah, Passman, Dina, Biddinger, Paul D., and Scott, Benjamin
- Subjects
COVID-19 pandemic ,EMERGENCY management ,CRITICAL care medicine ,DISASTERS ,DISASTER medicine - Abstract
Background:In December 2021, the Region 1 Disaster Health Response System, the state of Vermont, and the National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network partnered to provide statewide access to disaster teleconsultations during COVID-19 surge conditions. In this case report, we describe how a disaster teleconsultation system was implemented in Vermont to provide access to temporary tele-critical care consultations during the Omicron COVID-19 surge. Methods:We measured the time from request of service to implementation and calculated descriptive statistics. Results:Seven of Vermont's 14 hospitals requested the service. Despite a technology solution capable of providing services within hours, mean time to service implementation was 27 days (interquartile range 20โ41 days). Conclusions:Integration of disaster teleconsultation systems into state and local emergency management plans are needed to bring administrative start-up times in line with technical readiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF