In times of disaster, doctors, nurses and other medical professionals always prove to be generous with their time and skills. And when Hurricane Harvey struck Texas, this compassionate group once again scrambled to affected areas of the state to help family, friends and total strangers.
To make sure members of Texas’ volunteer medical community can quickly and safely get to the disaster areas where they are needed most, the Department of State Health Services created The Texas Disaster Volunteer Registry website. The registry is used as a local volunteer registration and management tool for local responder organizations. It provides a secure database with information regarding each volunteer’s identity, qualifications, training and experience.
Separately, the Texas Board of Nursing created a Hurricane Harvey-related website to handle to the extraordinary response of nurses from other states. As the website notes, out-of-state nurses may practice in Texas for the purpose of rendering aid, as long as they hold a current licenses in good standing in their home states. The website provides pertinent information for nurses and employers of health care professionals.
The Texas Medical Board set up its own website for out-of-state physicians, physicians assistants and other medical professionals who want to help in the recovery effort. Since the State of Texas requires a license for many out-of-state medical health professionals not affiliated with a hospital – such as physicians, mid-level practitioners, veterinarians and other professionals – who wish to provide assistance, the Board set up a Hurricane Harvey Response website to offer information on obtaining the temporary permits.
The Texas Medical Board notes that it does not place providers, but it posted links to a few organizations. They include:
American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer#step1
Volunteer Houston: http://volunteerhouston.org/
TX Gulf Coast Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster (VOAD): http://txgulfcoastvoad.org/
State of Texas Websites for Medical Professionals
The Texas Disaster Volunteer Registry by the Department of State Health Services
https://www.texasdisastervolunteerregistry.org/
The Texas Medical Board
http://www.tmb.state.tx.us/page/hurricane-harvey-response
Texas Board of Nursing