To be or not to be an ESAR-VHP Volunteer An Introduction to: The New Jersey Emergency System for Advanced Registration of Volunteer Healthcare Professionals (ESAR-VHP) --- pronounced: E - SAR - VIP ESAR-VHP 201

You must first be a registered volunteer in the State’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) To become an ESAR-VHP Volunteer

The MRC is designed to: Identify and register volunteers who wish to donate their time and expertise to their community. Prepare for and respond to emergencies and promote health and wellness. Supplement existing emergency and public health resources. The Medical Reserve Corps

ESAR-VHP is an electronic database (within the MRC) of health care professionals who can volunteer to provide aid in a public health or medical emergency. The system is designed to: Register licensed health care professional volunteers Apply emergency credentialing standards to registered volunteers Verify identity, credentials, accreditations and hospital privileges in advance of a public health or medical emergency ESAR-VHP

The Medical Reserve Corps and ESAR- VHP are connected, but different. Medical Reserve Corps ESAR-VHP volunteers are: practicing healthcare professionals willing to travel outside of their jurisdiction (intra-state, state-to-state, and state-to-federal) to assist in an emergency response. MRC volunteers are: healthcare professionals (active and retired) or community volunteers that agree to assist in their local jurisdiction. Volunteers can be both MRC and ESAR-VHP members. ESAR-VHP

Are you an active licensed health professional? Are you willing to respond to a federal emergency? Are you willing to volunteer your services outside of your local jurisdiction (i.e. town, county)? How would you answer these questions?

Physicians (Allopathic and Osteopathic) Physician Assistants Registered Nurses Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Licensed Practical Nurses Licensed Vocational Nurses Psychologists Clinical Social Workers Dentists Marriage/Family Therapists Pharmacists We are looking for: Respiratory Therapists Mental Health Counselors Veterinarians Cardiovascular Technologists/ Technicians Diagnostic Medical Sonographers EMT and Paramedics Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians/ Technologists Medical Record and Health Information Technicians Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

Floods Tornados Hurricanes Wildfires Large scale disasters or emergencies As a Volunteer Health Professional you might respond to:

Joining the MRC/ESAR-VHP program does not obligate you to participate in any medical response event. In The Event Of A Federal Emergency You might be contacted by your local MRC unit coordinator, but you would always have the right to decide whether to deploy based on your personal and professional circumstances. ESAR-VHP 201

Your local MRC unit coordinator corresponds with you based upon a request received for ESAR-VHP volunteers You inform your local unit coordinator of your availability If you are available, your local unit coordinator sends your contact information to the NJ MRC / ESAR-VHP coordinator Subsequent contact with you may be through your local unit coordinator or a designated NJ State Coordinator How the Federal Deployment process works:

Legal and Liability Issues Should be addressed with your employer, however if NJ enacts the Emergency Health Powers Act*… (NJ Deployment P.L. 2005, c. 222 October 19, 2005) *Section 19: Immunity “A public entity and its agents, officers, employees, servants or representatives of a public entity, including volunteers, shall not be liable for an injury, EXCEPT for conduct that constitutes a crime, actual fraud, malice, gross negligence or willful misconduct” Some Things to Consider:

Deployment may be 1-2 weeks Can I leave my family for 2 weeks? Does my family have a back-up plan while I am gone? Am I physically capable to participate at this time? Do I have proper identification? Do I have my license verification information? Am I up to date on my immunizations? More Things to Consider:

In New Jersey, the registration process for the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) and ESAR-VHP are the same. To register as a MRC/ESAR-VHP volunteer, visit Joining does not obligate you to participate in any emergency response event. If you are interested… Here's What You Need To Do To Register

Be sure to check “YES” to these questions on your NJ MRC application to indicate your interest in ESAR-VHP

You will meet some terrific people and be offered great training opportunities in emergency preparedness MRC Orientation POD Operations Disaster Awareness Family/Personal Preparedness Orientation to Public Health Incident Command System (ICS) – 100 National Incident Management System (NIMS) – 700 Psychological First Aid for the MRC CBRNE Awareness (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive) ESAR-VHP Recommended Training:

In their words… ESAR-VHP 201

No problem~ Contact your local MRC Coordinator and inform them of your decision. You can still be an MRC volunteer and can volunteer locally. Thank you for your service. “I’d like to volunteer, but I don’t think I want to be part of the ESAR-VHP program.”

The US Department of Health and Human Services The Division of the Civilian Medical Reserve Corps The New Jersey Medical Reserve Corps. or Contact your local MRC/ESAR-VHP Coordinator For More Information On ESAR-VHP & MRC - please visit: For More Information about New Jersey’s ESAR-VHP & MRC Please visit:

Insert local MRC coordinator contact information