Provision of care through telemedicine during a natural disaster: a case study

This case study describes how telemedicine was used to provide clinical care to an individual with a spinal cord injury (SCI) affected by the California Valley Fire in 2015. The individual with SCI lost their home and most of their adaptive devices due to the fire. Telemedicine was used to address medical concerns and facilitate the replacement of medical supplies and equipment. The study highlights the importance of telemedicine as an effective tool to meet the medical needs of individuals with SCI during disasters, providing continuity of care and mitigating the impact of such events.

• 1
  Telemedicine (teleSCI) provided continuity of care to an individual with SCI affected by the Valley Fire, addressing both emergent and existing medical needs.
• 2
  Telemedicine facilitated the swift replacement of essential durable medical equipment (DME) and supplies lost in the fire, ensuring the participant's basic needs were met.
• 3
  The existing telemedicine infrastructure allowed for timely and responsive care, demonstrating the benefit of having telemedicine programs established before a disaster occurs.