New medical registry for licensed medical professionals aims to help California better prepare for disasters

If you're a nurse, doctor, pharmacist, or paramedic with an active license who would like to volunteer for disaster service in California, the state’s new medical volunteer registry is the best place to get started. Using a secure and confidential Web site, you can now register as a volunteer who could be called upon during a major emergency.

The UC Davis Center for Health and Technology (CHT) is charged with building awareness of the new registry and getting licensed professionals to join in this disaster preparedness effort, which was established by the state’s Emergency Medical Services Authority. Health System employees interested in being medical volunteers are encouraged to take a few minutes to sign up. The Web site is http://medicalvolunteer.ca.gov.

“Recent disasters such as Hurricane Katrina showed us how important it is to really develop and modernize our emergency response systems,” said Javeed Siddiqui, an infectious disease specialist at UC Davis, who’s directing the project for CHT. “This registry will ensure that an adequate and competent volunteer medical force is available and well coordinated when a disaster or health crisis happens.”

During the online registration process, volunteers will be asked for information regarding their professional license, the best way to be contacted and other relevant background information. Once a person has signed up, their medical credentials will be validated – before an emergency – so that they can be deployed quickly and efficiently. Moreover, the registry only allows authorized system managers to access the volunteer information.

Siddiqui, who serves as associate medical director for CHT, said registration is fairly quick and easy. He also noted that the new system is designed to establish legal protections for medical volunteers and others involved in emergency responses.

“A number of our fellow employees paid their own way to help victims of Katrina last year, “ added Siddiqui, “so we know people are more than willing to help out during disasters. This project is comprehensive in scope so that licensed professionals can be assured their skills are being used in the most effective and appropriate manner possible.”