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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Massachusetts System for Advance Registration (MSAR)?
- Why is MSAR necessary?
- Who is eligible to volunteer in the program?
- How will MSAR work?
- What if I am called and am unable or unwilling to help?
- What about my family, my job and my other commitments?
- What will my role be in a large scale disaster or public health emergency?
- Do I have professional liability and workers compensation protection?
- How does MSAR collaborate with MRCs?
- How will I update my information?
- Does MSAR require any training?
- What Information Do I Need When Filling in the MSAR Application?
- Why does MSAR collect the information it collects?
- How long will it take me to complete the application and MSAR Introductory Course?
1. What is the Massachusetts System for Advance Registration (MSAR)?
MSAR is a statewide, secure database of pre-credentialed health care professionals who are interested in volunteering their services in the event of a public health emergency. MSAR is a program of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Recent experience with large scale disasters has consistently shown that an effective response requires that volunteers be pre-credentialed and deployed through a coordinated effort. Well meaning but unaffiliated volunteers who spontaneously present to disaster sites are often unable to be assigned. With limited time and resources to process volunteers, often only those with known credentials are permitted access to the disaster response. By registering with MSAR, you can be part of an alert system and respond, when activated, to a significant disaster or public health emergency
3. Who is eligible to volunteer in the program?
Anyone who is interested in responding to a public health emergency may register with MSAR. Because MSAR has a specific goal to pre-credential volunteers before they respond to an event, the program is designed to recruit people who have a background in health care, and who are therefore licensed professionals.
Once you have indicated your interest in becoming an MSAR volunteer, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health will contact you for further information and a self assessment of discipline-specific capabilities. Your professional credentials will be verified and you will be required to successfully complete an online orientation course. This information will become part of the MSAR statewide, secure database.
MSAR may only be activated by the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health or his or her designee in the event of a public health emergency. Upon activation, an alert message will be sent to all MSAR members - or a limited pool of members - depending on the size, type, location, and specific needs of the incident.
5. What if I am called and am unable or unwilling to help?
When you are called to volunteer, you can make a decision about your availability at that time. Members of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who are MSAR volunteers are never under any obligation to participate in an MSAR activation. You always retain the right to decline for any reason.
6. What about my family, my job and my other commitments?
Volunteers are required to coordinate their volunteer time with the needs of their family, their employers and any other non-paid obligations relative to an emergency response. Please note if you are affiliated with a Massachusetts hospital or a Medical Reserve Corps, you may be contacted by that entity during an MSAR activation.
7. What will my role be in a large scale disaster or public health emergency?
Every attempt will be made to match your skills, competencies and license or registration level with your responsibilities during an MSAR response. On occasion, however, you may be asked to assist with activities that are less challenging than your usual professional activities.
8. Do I have professional liability and workers compensation protection?
At this time, MSAR volunteers are not offered overarching professional liability or workers compensation protection, however, there are several Massachusetts General Laws that offer some form of protection to health care professionals volunteering under public health programs. View a summary of liability and workers’ compensation protections for Massachusetts health care volunteers in disaster response.
Please note, that members of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who are MSAR volunteers are never under any obligation to participate in an MSAR activation. You always retain the right to decline for any reason. If and when full liability protections are offered, volunteers will be made aware of them by the MSAR program.
9. How does MSAR collaborate with MRCs?
MSAR activations will be coordinated with the Massachusetts Medical Reserve Corps Units. MRCs support “local” public health initiatives, such as emergency response, immunization and prevention activities. MRC members are encouraged to register with MSAR to ensure that locally-based resources are available in the event of a declared public health emergency. MSAR volunteers are also encouraged to consider registering with an MRc to assist in smaller, local events which do not initiate an MSAR activation. For more information on MRCs, please visit: www.mamedicalreservecorps.org.
10. How will I update my information?
When you fill out your MSAR application, you will create a username and password. Please remember these, and use them to log back into the MSAR system at http://www.mass.gov/msar to update your information at any time.
11. Does MSAR require any training?
Yes, MSAR volunteers are asked to complete a brief on-line training. In this course, you will learn about the different types of public health emergencies and disasters, the roles and responsibilities of MSAR volunteers, and the organizational structure of an Incident Command System (ICS). You will also gain an understanding about the MSAR activation process, how to prepare yourself and your family in the event of an emergency, and ways you can help special populations and people with behavioral health needs. Medical and nursing Medical, nursing and EMT continuing education credits are available upon completion of the course. Once you have completed the MSAR application, you will receive an email from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health with your course username and password as well as a link to the course.
12. What Information Do I Need When Filling in the MSAR Application?
To expedite your registration, applicants may want to have the following information available (as applicable to your profession) in order to complete* the MSAR application:
- Board Certification (Certificate Number, Certificate Date, Expiration)
- Professional License (Certificate Number, Certificate Date, Expiration)
- Life Support & Disaster Response Certifications (Certificate Number(s), Expiration)
- Driver’s License Number
- Federal DEA Certificate (Certificate Number, Expiration), if applicable
- MA Controlled Substance Certificate (Certificate Number, Issue Date)
- National Practitioner Identification Number
* Please note that you do not have to complete the application in one sitting, MSAR volunteers are able to log into the on-line system at any time
13. Why does MSAR collect the information it collects?
MSAR is part of a national HRSA preparedness program called the Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Care Professionals (ESAR-VHP). All 50 states have been tasked with creating their own secure database of volunteer health professionals who are interested in responding during an emergency. In order to facilitate the potential sharing across state lines, it is essential that each state collect the same information for credentialing and identify verifying purposes. For this reason, the federal government has issued guidelines stating what information should be collected and MSAR follows these guidelines. Please note that your personal information will be contained within a central, secure database administered by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH). MDPH and the organizations and individuals that use the MSAR system are required by law to protect the privacy and security of the identifiable personal information in the MSAR system. None of your personal information will be released without your prior consent.
More information regarding ESAR-VHP can be found by visiting: http://www.hrsa.gov/esarvhp/.
14. How long will it take me to complete the application and MSAR Introductory Course?
The MSAR application should take approximately 30 minutes to complete. If you are able to collect the information suggested in FAQ 12 before beginning, this time frame will be significantly shorter. The MSAR Introductory Course should take approximately 45 minutes to complete. Please note that you are not obligated to finish the application or course in one sitting. Because each volunteer will have a username and password, you may log in and complete the application and course at your own convenience.
This information is provided by the Department of Public Health.