A new survey reveals some things healthcare facilities should be putting in place to minimize the impact of natural disasters, according to a MDLinx website.
Secure messaging and patient communications should be a priority for most facilities. Dependence on non-HIPAA compliant disaster communications methods is a problem.
Only 44 percent of survey respondents said HIPAA-compliant medical messaging is a key requirement of a disaster preparedness plan.
Telehealth could also prove useful in treating stranded patients. Forty-five percent of respondents said ift was a valuable option, but connectivity and technical glitches at impacted utilities could be challenging.