Pittsburgh, PA – When tornadoes struck Joplin, Missouri on Sunday evening, an emergency management technology provider in Pittsburgh received notification to expect heavy usage of their state‐of‐the‐art systems. Within 48 hours, more than 4,000 licensed medical professionals registered through the “Show‐Me Response” website (https://www.showmeresponse.org/), managed for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services by Collaborative Fusion, Inc. (CFI). The site is part of the Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR‐VHP), a federal program created to support states and territories in establishing standardized volunteer registration programs for disasters as well as public health and medical emergencies that is operated out of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
As the nation's leading supplier of innovative emergency management solutions, CFI’s products are used in over 20 states and the District of Columbia to protect nearly half the U.S. population. Much more than a simple website, Collaborative Fusion, Inc.’s CORES™ Responder Management System is used in Missouri and other states to enable qualified medical personnel to register to volunteer. The system securely collects information about volunteers such as contact information, professional licensure, trainings, and skill levels. The CORES™ Responder Management System also facilitates two way communications between volunteer responders and state coordinators.
How well does the system work? Since the tornado hit, the Missouri database has more than doubled and continues to climb each day. With this system in place, state coordinators can call upon qualified individuals based on their location, expertise, and skill level to assist in recovery efforts. In the hours and days immediately following a disaster, the CORES™ Responder Management System streamlines response time and minimizes confusion and delays.
Why is the system important? According to Bryan Kaplan, Chief Operating Officer of Collaborative Fusion, Inc., "Our work is all about preparedness in the event of a disaster, to simplify the management of personnel and communication at a critical time." From daily interactions with officials on a state and national level, Kaplan is told that the excellent local health department in Joplin has the resources it needs. "We are hearing that unsolicited donations are not needed, and unsolicited volunteers are also not required. At this time, their focus remains on search and rescue efforts." Rather than send unsolicited items, people should wait to hear specifically what items are required, and send them when state coordinators are prepared to handle the associated storage and logistical needs. Likewise, volunteers should wait until they are called upon.
Out‐of‐state health care volunteers wondering how they can be of assistance can take action. They should register online for their own state’s ESAR VHP. In this manner, their contact information, licensing and credentials are validated and they are part of the nation’s emergency alert network, should this incident or a future crisis require their skills. A list of state ESAR‐VHP systems is located at http://www.phe.gov/esarvhp/.
About Collaborative Fusion, Inc. Collaborative Fusion, Inc. provides innovative emergency management solutions for Federal, State, and Local governments and the private sector. Clients trust CFI's support in preparing for emergencies, coordinating response efforts, and building stronger communities. CFI is the leading provider of web‐based responder and incident management solutions helping local, state, and federal agencies best prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. For more information on CFI please visit http://www.collaborativefusion.com.
For more information, contact: Jim Pettler Collaborative Fusion, Inc. Phone: 412‐422‐3463 x4013 Email: jpettler@collaborativefusion.com