The Office of Public Health Preparedness leads the coordination, planning, implementation, and recruitment efforts of the MI Volunteer Registry. The Registry is an internet-based system that conforms to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Emergency System for Advanced Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR-VHP) national standards and definitions. The Registry is part of a national network of State based systems designed for the advanced registration and credential verification of volunteers needed to help augment patient care and surge capacity needs.
The Registry was originally designed primarily for health professionals with all skill levels and experiences. Initial recruitment and registration focused on physicians, nurses, behavioral health, and ancillary professionals. Since the initial launch, focus has expanded to include any type of individual willing to volunteer in a public health or medical event.
Volunteers may chose to register for one or more of eight volunteer groups including Licensed Health Professions, Unlicensed Health Volunteers, General Support Volunteers, Community Emergency Response Team, Medical Reserve Corps, Fire Corps, Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers in Police Service, the Michigan Mortuary Response Team (MI-MORT), and Michigan's State Animal Response Team (MI-SART).
The purpose of this system is to provide a secure, electronic environment for volunteers to indicate their interests and contact information. In the event of an accidental, natural, intentional, or other public health or medical emergency; the Registry functions as a central location for volunteer information. In an event, this information can be queried and appropriate volunteers contacted by e-mail.
The Registry will also be a place where volunteers can access important topical information regarding specific events, exercises and drills, or general knowledge and training.
Support to develop and create the Registry comes from a cooperative agreement with the ASPR, Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) and ESAR-VHP program. Funds have been used to develop, implement, and sustain the Registry. Volunteers, along with local and regional agencies, are able to use the system without direct cost to them.
