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Non-Location-Based Patient Data in Disasters

A complex world demands simpler data solutions.

Disasters are complex events with many, many moving parts, all of which can be disrupted by the disasters. When disruption occurs, you need solutions that solve problems created by the disruption. The medical system is just one of those systems of systems that has to deal with disruption in services to patients. 

With all of this in mind, read this:

When disaster strikes and families are relocated to shelters in their community or even further afield, prescription refills and other healthcare needs become more challenging. The Sequoia Project, in support of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), has led the development of a nationwide deployment plan for the health IT disaster response platform known as the Patient Unified Lookup System for Emergencies (PULSE).

Experts from two offices within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) — initially conceived the idea for PULSE following experiences in hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. Well-meaning physicians and providers flocked to shelters to help, but the shelters could not confirm medical credentials of the volunteers, and the volunteers could not access evacuee health records.

The PULSE platform was activated in California for the 2017 wildfires, and many area health systems and providers rallied behind the effort. It has since been used for hurricanes Florence and Michael and for the 2018 California wildfires.

“Disasters and other events are unpredictable and disruptive and place unique demands on public health, private sector healthcare, first responders and other key resources,” said Mariann Yeager, CEO of The Sequoia Project. “People need seamless health care, whether for emergency care or just uninterrupted prescription access, when they are displaced by a disaster. PULSE is a public-private collaborative effort focused on ensuring our cities, counties and states are ready for when the next disaster strikes. Disasters and other serious events are inevitable, but how we handle them improves daily, and this effort will help communities take an important step forward toward more effective disaster response.”

Eric Holdeman is a contributing writer for Emergency Management magazine and is the former director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.