Session PC2.4

Satellite-Enabled eHealth Applications in Disaster Management: Experience from a Readiness Exercise

CE Chronaki*, V Kontoyiannis, E Charalambus, G Vrouchos,
D Vourvahakis, A Mamantopoulos

FORTH - Institute of Computer Science
Heraklion, Greece

Despite progress in information and communication technologies (ICT), communication is still a bottleneck for health early warning and response systems. So far, the integration of ICT to disaster readiness exercises particularly as regards to its timely and effective use by volunteers, is limited. Recently, easy to deploy satellite communications promise rapid and coordinated response and optimal adjustment of resources when deploying an emergency plan. Moreover, satellite communications combined with local WiFi networks, deliver eHealth applications on WiFi-enabled Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and support health workers on the field.
In the context of a two-day earthquake readiness exercise in Crete Greece, the added value of satellite enabled eHealth services was demonstrated revealing strengths and weaknesses of emergency IT services in complex scenarios that entailed averting environmental danger, as well as search and rescue operations in a power plant, a large hotel, and an earthquake settlement. The use of a mobile coordination van offered by the SAFE project, provided satellite communication services including low and high bandwidth access to the Internet, co-operative working, and geolocalisation for crisis management. The prehospital health emergency information system used by the Emergency Services was extended to support PDAs for mobile triage. An application for monitoring of biological parameters including Blood pressure and 12-lead ECG, developed for the ambulance was adapted to be used on the field by rescue workers of the Hellenic Red Cross. Vital signs and information on emergency episodes was transmitted to the emergency coordination center, the central coordination center of civil protection, and the hospitals once an episode was en-route to the emergency ward. Telemedical support was provided by Intensive Care Unit doctors in the coordination center. In parallel, information was relayed to the operation center of the Ministry of Health via videoconferencing.
The integration of satellite communication to restore connectivity or enable access to health information is valuable and can facilitate prompt interaction and communication in the management of disasters. However, while initial feedback from the exercise has been positive, the use of eHealth services over a hybrid satellite-wireless infrastructure turned out to be challenging. Further work is needed to make application easier to deploy and more suitable for disaster management. Moreover, the relevant protocols and standards need to be revisited leading to seamlessly integrated highly optimized eHealth services for disaster management.

(Abstract Control Number: 340)