On Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, `the USVI Department of Human Services (DHS) completed a specialized training session on the Patient Unified Lookup System for Emergencies (PULSE), marking a significant step in enhancing the territory’s ability to manage emergency shelters during disasters.
The training, which is part of the department’s Emergency Support Function 6 (ESF6) Mass Care unit, equips Human Services staff with critical tools to effectively manage admissions, departures and critical patient movement whenever shelters must operate.
The training was led by Tom Fitzgerald, data integration technician for emergency preparedness and response at PointClickCare, the leading electronic health record (EHR) technology partner for North America’s long-term, post-acute care (LTPAC) and senior care industry.
Department of Human Services staff engaged in comprehensive learning sessions that covered the following key PULSE functionalities:
—Emergency Census: Participants were trained to electronically capture shelter check-ins and check outs, improving management of shelter populations and ensuring real-time coordination with healthcare providers. This is particularly valuable for maintaining continuity of care for displaced individuals and for tracking movement of persons that may require transfer to another location/ facility.
* Patient Search: Staff learned how authorized personnel can securely access clinical care documents and medication histories for individuals arriving at shelters, for permitted uses such as treatment. All data access is role-based and strictly vetted by the department, adhering to federal, state and local laws ensuring that sensitive health information remains protected.
This cutting-edge system, supported by joint ClickCare, integrates with national health information exchange networks, providing the U.S. Virgin Islands with a robust tool to enhance disaster care coordination.
By connecting the territory’s healthcare providers to a broader network of hospitals, labs, pharmacies and other care providers, the system will help ensure timely and accurate care for displaced residents during emergencies. Unified Lookup System for Emergencies PULSE also complies with strict privacy and security standards, including HIPAA regulations.
Commissioner Averil George of the Department of Human Services said, “This training represents a crucial investment in our territory’s disaster preparedness. The Patient Unified Lookup System for Emergencies system gives us the ability to provide faster, more coordinated care to our community when they need it most, ensuring that our most vulnerable populations are not left behind during emergencies.”
With this new training, the USVI Department of Human Services is better positioned to respond effectively to future disasters, leveraging cutting-edge technology to safeguard the health and well-being of residents across the territory.
For more information about the Human Services and its disaster preparedness initiatives, please visit the Department of Human Services website at www.dhs.gov.vi or on Facebook.
(https://www.facebook.com/usvidhs)
