The Discussion Group for Emergency Preparedness and Response serves to assist in:
- Planning for improvements in advanced telecommunications for natural and man-made disaster events and homeland security
- Improving the regional/national/international management of trauma and emergency care clinical services through telecommunications and information management
- Improving patient flow management in emergency and trauma care through the use of telemedicine technologies
- Improving education of all levels of emergency care/response personnel through distance learning and automated educational systems including paramedics in rural areas, first responders, disaster response personnel, management of chemical, biological, nuclear, blast injuries/illnesses
- Supporting the advancement of evidence-based research in emergency/ trauma preparedeness and responsiveness
- Providing linkage between the American Telemedicine Association and national and international professional organizations active in this area