Forum Summary

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently released a report recommending an improved system for patient tracking during mass evacuations.  The proposed system would be built on existing systems and would be capable of incorporating records from feeder institutions.  At a minimum, the record for each patient would consist of the following information: name, date of birth, gender, health status, last updated location, and a unique identifier.  More detailed information could be added to the record, and access to the record would be carefully controlled in order to maintain patient privacy.  The system would be designed to promote interoperability.  The Department of Defense, the Red Cross, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) currently have systems for patient tracking, but these systems cannot communicate with each other.  Challenges involved in the creation of an interoperable system include addressing privacy concerns, developing standards, and resolving conflicts over who would own and lead the project.  In addition to developing recommendations for this national patient tracking system, the AHRQ has also developed a number of tools, such as transportation models, to help hospitals and other organizations make evacuation-related decisions.  

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