Wisconsin Emergency Assistance Volunteer Registry (WEAVR)
The new WEAVR (exit DHS) is
live and ready for current members to re-register and for new
members to join. The new WEAVR benefits you as a health professional
volunteer and those with other skills who may be called upon to
respond to a public health emergency. Your health professional
license/certification/registration information can be verified by
state and national databases. Integration of Medical Reserve Corps
Unit members as well as members of the WI-1 Disaster Medical
Assistance Team (DMAT) into the new WEAVR provide a more central
system to locate the licensure and skills needed for response to a
public health emergency. Verification of credentials will make the
response to an emergency more efficient and timely. In short,
volunteers can be deployed faster.
Commonly Asked Questions
What does WEAVR stand for?
WEAVR is an acronym for Wisconsin Emergency Assistance
Volunteer Registry. WEAVR is a secure, password-protected,
electronic database residing within the Wisconsin Health Alert Network
(HAN) and the Public Health Information Network (PHIN). WEAVR is owned
and managed by the Wisconsin Division of Public Health.
What insurance liability do I have as a
volunteer?
Wisconsin Statute Chapter 257
(exit DHS) provides liability and worker's
compensation for specified licensed health professionals deployed as
volunteers during a declared emergency. To be considered for this
coverage, you must join WEAVR.
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What is the purpose of WEAVR?
WEAVR is multipurpose. It provides health care and behavioral health
professionals with an easy way to indicate their interest in volunteer
service following a catastrophic emergency incident. Volunteers have the
ability to update their individual contact information at any time. The
registry also provides the Department of Health Services with a mechanism to house volunteer
information in a central location.
Who can volunteer for WEAVR?
WEAVR is designed for health care and behavioral health
professionals. The skills profile section of the registry asks
volunteers to indicate their expertise by degree, licensure,
certification, and by specific skills.
Under what conditions will volunteers be
contacted to provide emergency health care services?
WEAVR volunteers will be contacted after a catastrophic emergency
incident if all other local, regional, or statewide primary responder
resources are not sufficient to meet the need for response and recovery
efforts resulting from that incident.
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What information from WEAVR volunteers
will be shared and under what circumstances?
The WEAVR system is designed so that the database of volunteers can
be queried for the specific health professions needed following an
emergency incident. The query will take into consideration the distance
and number of days that volunteers have indicated in their registration
information and include those individuals in the final list available to
the local or State Emergency Operations Center. The list will
include volunteer contact information, licensure, certification, degree,
and skills indicated.
Does WEAVR duplicate other
volunteer/responder efforts?
WEAVR enhances primary responder efforts by having back up health
care and behavioral health professional volunteers if and when needed.
In the event that local or state primary responder resources are
insufficient or need relief, WEAVR volunteers will be called upon to
assist. During the registration process, WEAVR volunteers also have the
option of indicating consent to be contacted by the local Public Health
Preparedness Consortium Coordinators to receive information about local
training opportunities.
What is expected of health care
professionals who volunteer for WEAVR?
At a minimum, WEAVR volunteers must update their contact information
in the registry if and when it changes. Periodic reminders are sent via
e-mail.
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If I am not currently employed, but keep my
license current, how can I register for WEAVR?
Health care and behavioral health professionals that are not
currently affiliated with a health care organization or related business
through employment or membership are able to register by choosing WEAVR
– Wisconsin Emergency Assistance Volunteer Registry - DPH from the
drop down list in "Select Organization" when signing on.
How will I know what I am expected to do if I
am contacted?
The local or State Emergency Operations Center will provide all
of the information about where to report, credentials to bring, and any
other requirements necessary.
What kind of training will I receive?
WEAVR volunteers will receive "Just-In-Time" training at
the site where they will be directed to report. WEAVR volunteers have
the option, indicated during registration, to be contacted by their
local or regional Public Health Preparedness Consortium Coordinator
about training opportunities that may be available. Contact with
volunteers is made through the e-mail address provided during
registration.
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Should I register for WEAVR if I belong to
another volunteer organization?
The registry asks if you are registered with other volunteer or
military organizations and if so, which is the primary organization.
Following an emergency incident, the local or State Emergency Operations
Center may call upon
other volunteer organizations. However, details of the specific health
care and behavioral health professionals needed, post emergency
incident, will not be known until that time. Therefore, registering with
more than one volunteer organization is acceptable and encouraged.
Where does the support come from for WEAVR?
Funds from the 2003-2004 Public Health Preparedness and Response to
Bioterrorism cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention were used to develop and create the electronic database and system for
query within the Health Alert Network (HAN) and the Public Health
Information Network (PHIN).
Where can I register for WEAVR?
The new WEAVR (exit DHS) is
live and ready for current members to re-register and for new
members to join. The new WEAVR benefits you as a health professional
volunteer and those with other skills who may be called upon to
respond to a public health emergency. Your health professional
license/certification/registration information can be verified by
state and national databases. Integration of Medical Reserve Corps
Unit members as well as members of the WI-1 Disaster Medical
Assistance Team (DMAT) into the new WEAVR provide a more central
system to locate the licensure and skills needed for response to a
public health emergency. Verification of credentials will make the
response to an emergency more efficient and timely. In short,
volunteers can be deployed faster.
Back to Top
How do I contact someone at the Division of
Public Health if I have questions?
The best way to make contact with Division of Public Health is by
e-mail at DHSWEAVRMail@wisconsin.gov.
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Last Revised:
March 16, 2012 |
