Hospital-Level Implementation Barriers, Facilitators, and Willingness to Use a New Regional Disaster Teleconsultation...

Area of Science:

• Disaster Health Response
• Telehealth
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• The Region 1 Disaster Health Response System project aims to enhance disaster response through telehealth.
• This system will provide rapid access to clinical experts across US jurisdictions.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify hospital-level barriers, facilitators, and willingness to adopt a new regional disaster teleconsultation system.
• Guide future implementation of the system for disaster health response.

Main Methods:

• Surveyed 189 New England hospital-based and freestanding emergency departments (EDs) using the National Emergency Department Inventory-USA database.
• Assessed emergency notification systems, consultant access, disaster credentialing, telecommunication reliability, and willingness to use the system.
• Examined state-wise hospital and ED disaster response capabilities.

Main Results:

• 87% of hospitals responded, with 81% willing to use the disaster teleconsultation system.
• Many EDs lack specialists (e.g., burn, toxicology); critical access hospitals (CAHs) show high willingness but limited specialist access.
• Telecommunication infrastructure is generally adequate, though rural areas report lower reliability; disaster credentialing processes vary significantly by state.

Conclusions:

• New England hospitals possess essential infrastructure and willingness for a disaster teleconsultation system.
• Improving telecommunication redundancy in rural areas and utilizing low-bandwidth technology are recommended.
• Standardized and accelerated disaster credentialing policies are necessary for successful implementation.