The Importance of Satellite Technology to Disaster Preparedness in Health Care

What could be more crucial for disaster recovery than healthcare? Preparation for the timely delivery of health care services at a disaster site makes the difference between life and death. Satellite communications for healthcare play a key role in disaster preparedness. As a result, they ensure the delivery of essential services when and where they are most needed.

Access to vital medical information

The healthcare satellite connectivity market expects a 7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). This shows the key nature of constant access. Getting reliable connectivity in rural areas presents an extra challenge. In these regions, using high-tech apps with satellite connectivity is a solution for:

Lack of infrastructure.
Lack of a skilled workforce.
Lack of infectious disease management personnel.

During disaster recovery, these problems may occur anywhere. As a solution, satellite communications for healthcare preserve access to medical records. They also maintain contact with providers. Amid floods or flames, internet and data center backups prevent data loss.

Every minute counts

Companies measure the advantages of satellite communications for healthcare in both lives and money saved. For every minute of better response time:

General death rates go down 7-8%.
Deaths from heart and neurological emergencies go down 1-2%.
Heart and neurological health care costs go down 6.9%.
Severe trauma costs for patients go down by 5.5%.
Deaths resulting from time-critical emergencies such as choking or severe allergic reactions go down by 3.5%.
Property damage costs due to fires go down from $2,700–$6,000.

Satellite backup and failover to voice communications make sure of connectivity.

Mobile care

Disasters move fast and emergency care must be mobile. Satellite communications for healthcare providers help them set up care centers. They also keep traveling units in motion. Satellite phones allow emergency response communications for mobile responders. Satellite-enabled vehicles give the ability to image patients and deliver blood supplies. So, when disaster recovery teams set up mobile health clinics, satellites link them to larger facilities and specialists. Using satellite communications, mobile command centers reach responders in the field.

Telemedicine

When storms, fires, or washed-out roads restrict access, telemedicine brings doctors to patients. Telemedicine includes:

Diagnosis.
Treatment.
Monitoring.
Patient education.

Under normal conditions, telemedicine may work with wired phone lines, cable or cell service, in disaster recovery, none of these options may be working. However, satellite emergency response communications for healthcare will work fine. While disasters may limit the reach of wired and cellular networks, with satellite communication, patients, no matter where they are, can reach caregivers.

While COVID may not look like a disaster in the usual sense, in terms of the isolation of patients, it is the perfect example of an urgent use of telemedicine. The need to block the spread of an infectious disease such as COVID or even bad flu may keep patients from a doctor’s office. Travel may also be out of the question. However, through telemedicine, medical professionals evaluate patients and prescribe care.

Even in the best of times, the world and the U.S. have faced a severe shortage of radiologists. Trained techs take X-rays and scans, often necessary during disaster recovery. Unfortunately, a radiologist is needed to read them. Telemedicine allows radiologists anywhere to see images.

Pregnancy complications also stop patients from traveling. Disasters make the problem worse. Fortunately, through satellite communications, ultrasounds given by on-site techs get read and interpreted remotely by physicians. Doctors then can help keep mother and child healthy.

Closer to home

Even disasters such as tornadoes that don’t directly threaten many people’s lives can knock out conventional networks. Sat phones and satellite-enabled hardline phones connect patients and caregivers when nothing else can do the job.

Disaster management equipment

Disaster recovery teams use many satellite-enabled devices for emergency response communications. These include mobile command centers, which are specialty trailers that responders can set up in minutes. They provide critical voice and data communications and include a generator in case no power is available. Responders use these centers to connect aid stations and humanitarian camps.

Health care up and running

Large healthcare organizations may have multiple facilities. During a disaster, keeping up emergency response communications between them is more important than ever. X2nSat will work within industry regulations and existing infrastructure.

We provide diverse satellite solutions for the healthcare industry that fit particular business needs: