Assuring Patient Safety During Telehealth Visits: Managing Emergencies

Did you know if you are in a telehealth visit and the patient experiences an emergency, you DON'T call 911? EMS dispatch would send services to your location, not the patient's. Information on how to establish a safety plan with your patient is briefly covered in this Telehealth Collaborative video between minutes 25:55 and 29:00. Be sure to establish the patient's exact location for every telehealth visit. 

In case of a medical or psychiatric emergency, use the nation-wide emergency service link, (267)908-6605 to be connected to the 911 operator at the patient's location.

Information about this service was provided at the most recent Telehealth Collaborative meeting by VA physician, Brad Felker.