Digitalization of Japan DMAT Information Management

Introduction: The WHO EMT Minimum Standards emphasize the importance of collecting and assessing information, integrating and analyzing data to formulate response strategies, sharing information with relevant organizations, and documenting and reporting activities in detail. Japan DMAT Information Management during disasters involves collecting, consolidating, evaluating, and analyzing information to determine action plans. This study examined the effectiveness of digitalized information management among the Japanese DMAT to enhance the efficiency of information collection and analysis compared to traditional methods. Methods: The Japan DMAT training course, past Japan DMAT national exercise and regional exercise, and 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake DMAT responding activities are reviewed. A comparison was conducted between traditional handwritten information processing and its digitalized counterpart based on eight criteria: accuracy of record keeping, searchability, ease of sharing, efficiency of storage and preservation, flexibility in editing and updating, portability, ease of analysis and statistical processing, and security. Results: The digitalization of information brought numerous benefits to Japan’s DMAT operations. This initiative enhanced data accessibility, facilitated smoother communication, and improved overall operational performance, contributing to more effective information management. Conclusion: The digitalization of information has demonstrated its efficacy by mitigating information overload, ensuring swift access to critical data, and enabling the comparison of historical and real-time information. These strengths contribute to the expedited development of action plans and significantly enhance overall operational effectiveness.