Texas Disaster Volunteer Registry Belinda Hare State Disaster Volunteer Coordinator Community Preparedness Section Texas Department of State Health Services

Birth of ESAR-VHP ESAR-VHP = Emergency Systems for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals Tragic events of 9/ll Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002

Growth of ESAR-VHP HRSA’s National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program (NBHPP) Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Starting in 2009, must be in place or no cooperative agreement funding

Purpose/Functions Federal perspective: single, nationwide interoperable network of state-owned, state-operated systems Primary functions: Advance registration Licensure verification Credentialing

Additional Functions Call down capabilities Search queries Volunteer management Volunteer tracking Reporting, administrative tools

Texas Customizations Useful tool for locals Integration with existing systems Must include the lay individual Simple, secure, 24/7/365 availability Help build local ranks of volunteers

Registry Data Elements Contact information Military service, languages spoken Geographical deployment preferences Willingness to be federalized Affiliations with other volunteer groups Link to local volunteer groups

Search capabilities Profession and specialty Credentialing level Languages spoken DSHS Health Service Region City and/or County Zip code

Benefits of registry Resource/asset assessment Effective utilization of assets Automated call downs/confirmations Rapid response to emergencies Volunteer tracking Administrative tools Minimize spontaneous volunteers

Benefits to volunteer Liability Training Relationship building Safety Effective use of volunteer skills Helping your neighbors

Phase One Purchase technology to support registry Ensure sustainability Engineer linkages with key boards/regulatory entities Engineer credentialing linkages Identify/train state-level administrators

Phase One (con’t) Physicians, physician assistants RNs, LVNs, nurse practitioners Pharmacists, pharmacy techs & interns EMTs/paramedics Social workers, marriage & family therapists, licensed professional counselors

Phase One (con’t) Start state-level recruitment Place Texas Disaster Volunteer Registry logo on Web sites Populate via linkages/recruitment with state partners (TMA, TOMA, TNA, TPA) Exercise/improve

Phase Two Integrate additional disciplines Dentists Respiratory therapists & techs Surgical technologists Medical & clinical laboratory techs Veterinarians Others

Phase Two (con’t) Operationalize on local/regional levels Identify local/regional administrators Train administrators on system Integrate linkages with local/regional volunteer systems Assist with local/regional recruitment

Phase Two (con’t) Integrate Protect Texas SNS volunteers Integrate public health staff into system Explore linkages with faith-based and other community volunteer groups Identify/incorporate minimal training standards/competency into system

Access to Registry Local EOC, hospitals, public health: access to city/county volunteers Health Service Regions/SNS Planners: access to volunteers in geographic area DSHS Multi-agency Coordination Center: access to volunteers statewide

Registry logo/icon

Texas Disaster Volunteer Registry Physicians Local EOC Nurses Local Hospital Texas Disaster Volunteer Registry Pharmacists Local Public Health Licensure Verification Recruitment EMT Paramedics Health Service Region Credentialing Credentialing Entities Mental Health Workers State MACC

STATE Region Region Region Local Local Local Local Local Local Local

For more information… Belinda Hare State Disaster Volunteer Coordinator Texas Department of State Health Services Belinda.Hare@dshs.state.tx.us Phone: (512) 458-7219