Journal of Pediatric Surgery
Volume 47, Issue 1 , Pages 221-224, January 2012

Using robotic telecommunications to triage pediatric disaster victims

  • Rita V. Burke

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
    • ,
  • Bridget M. Berg

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
    • ,
  • Paul Vee

      Affiliations

    • Department of Critical Care Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
    • ,
  • Inge Morton

      Affiliations

    • Department of Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
    • ,
  • Alan Nager

      Affiliations

    • Department of Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
    • ,
  • Robert Neches

      Affiliations

    • Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense, Washington, DC 20301, USA
    • ,
  • Randall Wetzel

      Affiliations

    • Department of Critical Care Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
    • ,
  • Jeffrey S. Upperman

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
    • Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Mailstop #72, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. Tel.: +1 323 361 7078(Office); fax: +1 323 361 3534.

Received 1 October 2011; accepted 8 October 2011.

Abstract 

Purpose

During a disaster, hospitals may be overwhelmed and have an insufficient number of pediatric specialists available to care for injured children. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of remotely providing pediatric expertise via a robot to treat pediatric victims.

Methods

In 2008, Los Angeles County held 2 drills involving telemedicine. The first was the Tri-Hospital drill in which 3 Los Angeles County hospitals, one being a pediatric hospital, participated. The disaster scenario involved a Metrolink train crash, resulting in a large surge of traumatic injuries. The second drill involved multiple agencies and was called the Great California Shakeout, a simulated earthquake exercise. The telemedicine equipment installed is an InTouch Health, Inc, Santa Barbara, CA robotic telecommunications system. We used mixed-methods to evaluate the use of telemedicine during these drills.

Results

Pediatric specialists successfully provided remote triage and treatment consults of victims via the robot. The robot proved to be a useful means to extend resources and provide expert consult if pediatric specialists were unable to physically be at the site.

Conclusion

Telemedicine can be used in the delayed treatment areas as well as for training first receivers to collaborate with specialists in remote locations to triage and treat seriously injured pediatric victims.

Key words: Disaster, Drill, Hospital, Pediatric, Robot, Telemedicine

 

PII: S0022-3468(11)00916-X

doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2011.10.046

Journal of Pediatric Surgery
Volume 47, Issue 1 , Pages 221-224, January 2012

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