1. Mass Catastrophic Event Planning: Emergency Systems for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR-VHP) Medical Reserve Corps National Leadership and Training Conference April 20 th, 2006 Christopher J. McLaughlin U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration Healthcare Systems Bureau Division of Healthcare Preparedness ESAR-VHP Program

2. 2 Health Professional Surge Capacity Health Professional Surge Capacity How will hospital and health delivery system capacity increase after an emergency?

3. 3 Health Professional Surge Capacity Health Professional Surge Capacity How will hospital and health delivery system capacity increase after an emergency? Volunteer Health Professionals (VHPs)

4. 4 HRSA ESAR-VHP Program Emergency Systems for the Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals Mission is to develop a virtual National system of credential-verified VHPs registered in advance of emergency events Support development of State-owned registration and credential verification systems Create National guidelines to direct development of all State systems Serves as keystone of tiered local-State-Federal response

5. 5 Develop Guidelines for States that: -are minimally prescriptive yet ensure interoperability -regularly updated (a/k/a “living document”) -include successful models Develop a common structure for State ESAR-VHPs Provide initial supplemental funding for State ESAR-VHP development Provide planning and technical assistance throughout development Ask States to query volunteers willing to participate in a Federal emergency response Key Strategies of ESAR-VHP

6. 6 Core System Components Online volunteer registration Primary source verification of credentials through electronic access to State and National databases Volunteer deployment mechanism

7. 7Accomplishments 60 States/Territories have received supplemental funding to begin planning for ESAR-VHP systems 13 State systems fully operational 7 States activated temporary systems in response to Katrina with implementation continuing in 2006 Working relationships with all major stakeholders Interim guidance developed: Technical and Policy Guidelines, Standards, and Definitions Legal and Regulatory Issues Reports Hospital Implementation Issues and Solutions Reports

8. 8 Advantages of Advance Registration Provides more opportunity for VHPs to practice to their highest capacity Informs VHPs about relevant legal liabilities and protections Helps meet health system requirements for VHP credential verification Enhances coordination and communication of VHPs VHPs more fully integrated into emergency planning

9. 9 Value of VHP Affiliation Unaffiliated or Spontaneous VHPs –Motivated by a sudden desire to help others in a time of trouble. –Come with a variety of skills. –May come from within or outside the affected area. Affiliated VHPs –Attached to a recognized entity –Trained for specific disaster response activities. –Relationship with the entity precedes the disaster. –Invited by that entity to become involved in a particular aspect of emergency response.

10. 10 Integrated VHP Response Key to effective local/State/National utilization of VHPs Support existing resources and reduce duplication of effort Improve the health and safety of local communities, States and the Nation Lead to a more seamless response mechanism guided by a systematic approach and set of integrated priorities

11. 11 Benefits of Integration Strengthen local, State, and Federal coordination Address response gaps by increasing local-State-Federal tiered response Minimize duplication of effort Reduce costs for local, State, and Federal governments Increase the size of local and state constituencies

12. 12 Possible Expectations for Integration Identification of volunteers – Shared Responsibility Credentials verification – State ESAR-VHP systems Training and preparing volunteers – Medical Reserve Corps Coordinated VHP notification, activation, mobilization and demobilization procedures – Shared Responsibility

13. 13 Next Steps Fact Sheet on Integration –Vision, benefits and expectations Guidance on Integration –Implementation and legal issues –Possible State models for integration Educational Materials –Primer for volunteer health professionals –Brochure

14. 14 Contact Information Chris McLaughlin Director, ESAR-VHP Program Division of Healthcare Preparedness Healthcare Systems Bureau Health Resources and Services Administration U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (301) 443-0036 cmclaughlin@hrsa.gov