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The ASPR Disaster Telemedicine Program

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Disaster Telemedicine program is an all-hazards capability for the rapid deployment of personnel virtually during disasters and public health emergencies. During large-scale emergencies or simultaneous events affecting multiple regions, the program serves as a force multiplier. This capability also provides a more efficient and less resource intensive rapid mechanism for supporting disasters, especially in hard-to-reach and austere locations.

Disaster Telemedicine Capabilities

ASPR’s Disaster Telemedicine program expands the depth and range of ASPR medical capabilities by leveraging:

An extensive cadre of medical specialists. The platform utilizes on-demand expertise from across 28 medical specialties.

Electronic Medical Record integration. The EMR captures the right data to make the right decisions, improves staff efficiency  and workflow, and enhances patient care.

Language interpretation services. The platform provides live medical interpreters in over 250 languages, including American  Sign Language.

Electronic or e-prescribing. This feature can be used in conjunction with telemedicine or as a separate resource.

Health Information Exchange (HIE) integration. The platform allows doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care providers to appropriately access and securely share a patient’s vital  medical information electronically, including medications, medical conditions, and surgical reports.

Data analytics dashboards. The dashboards provide  regional and national decision makers access to extensive up-to-date  operational data in real-time. Dashboards can be customized based on  user needs.

Technology Infrastructure

ASPR’s Disaster Telemedicine program  utilizes a Cloud-based platform and a range of equipment and medical  devices to facilitate remote disaster healthcare, including rugged  tablets with 4/5G, LTE, and satellite communications capabilities,  digital stethoscopes, digital ultrasound devices and EKGs, monitors, and high-definition exam cameras.

Requesting ASPR Disaster Telemedicine Support

Telemedicine services are deployed in the same way as other ESF-8 requests. States should work with their regional ASPR counterparts to define the need and request services through a mission assignment. For more information about ASPR’s Disaster Telemedicine program, email ASPRDT@hhs.gov.