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Emergency System for Advanced Registration of Volunteer Healthcare Professionals
ESAR-VHP is a national effort to pre-register health professionals who may be willing to volunteer for duty following a disaster. Presently registration is limited to physicians, nurses, paramedics, and pharmacists with active licenses.
San Mateo County has been selected to participate in a pilot project to register volunteers. This is a federal project, funded by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration and managed by the State Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Authority. San Mateo County EMS Agency is coordinating the local pilot project.
Currently licensed physicians, nurses, pharmacists and paramedics are requested to enter their professional information into the ESAR-VHP database via the Internet. The process takes about 15 minutes. The fact that the registrant is pre-credentialed in the system will only be made available to government emergency planners in the event of a declared disaster. Registration is confidential. There is an evaluation form regarding the process included in the registration.
Q: What about medical liability and malpractice?
A: These questions as well as indemnity for those organizations using the volunteers are being addressed as a part of the pilot project. Legal experts are meeting with the state and the contractor to determine the best method of providing this assurance.
Q: I already work at a hospital or I’m signed up with a DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team) or MRC (Medical Reserve Corps). Why would I want to sign up?
A: Being identified in the registry will allow you to volunteer when you are unable to report to your place of employment or DMAT/MRC unit. Registration will also be necessary if you wanted to respond to another part of the state or country as an individual volunteer.
Q: Am I obligated to respond to a disaster?
A: No, you would be notified by the system of the event and provided with pertinent information. Your response would remain voluntary.
Q: Where can interested volunteers register?
A: To register go to: www.medicalvolunteer.ca.gov
For more information or to become registered please visit our site at www.smhealth.org/ems/esarvhp Additional information can be obtained by calling the San Mateo County EMS Agency staff at (650) 573-2564.
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