Considerations for future disaster registries: Effectiveness of treatment referral outreach in addressing long-term unmet 9/11 disaster needs
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of a targeted outreach program that referred World Trade Center Health Registry (Registry) enrollees, to specific post-disaster health care available through the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) and evaluate differences in outreach effectiveness based on demographic and health characteristics.
Design/methodology/approach
The Registry’s Treatment Referral Program (TRP) targeted 22,981 enrollees based on symptoms and conditions known to be related to 9/11, reported on a 2011-2012 follow-up survey. A call vendor was utilized for the initial outreach phone call. Enrollees who requested a WTCHP application had follow-up from TRP staff, which typically included 4-6 interactions per enrollee until outreach was completed.
Findings
As of 12/31/2015, the vendor had reached 8,778 (38 percent) of the targeted sample. TRP staff spoke to 6,016 (68 percent) enrollees reached by the vendor, 5,554 (92 percent) of whom requested a WTCHP application, and 2,425 (43 percent) reported having submitted the WTCHP application. Application requests and submissions differed by survivor or responder status, race, income and health symptoms.
Originality/value
Registries created for surveillance and research among disaster-exposed populations provide a unique and effective outreach approach. A dedicated treatment referral unit within a disaster registry is an effective means for conducting post-disaster outreach to a large, diverse sample of exposed individuals.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank past and current members of the Treatment Referral Program team, including Liza Friedman, Lydia Leon, Cassandra Stanton, Ho Ki Mok, Joann Fields, and Daniel Wallingford, for their hard work and dedication to Registry enrollees. The authors also thank Global Strategy Group, especially Britt Power, for conducting the initial outreach calls, and Laurie Breyer and Reggie Pabon, of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health WTC Health Program, and Terry Miles, of Health and Hospital’s WTC Environmental Health Center Survivor clinics, for their support of TRP. This publication was supported by Cooperative Agreement Numbers 2U50/OH009739 and 5U50/OH009739 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); U50/ATU272750 from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), CDC, which included support from the National Center for Environmental Health, CDC; and by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIOSH, CDC or the Department of Health and Human Services.
Citation
Petrsoric, L., Miller-Archie, S.A., Welch, A., Cone, J. and Farfel, M. (2018), "Considerations for future disaster registries: Effectiveness of treatment referral outreach in addressing long-term unmet 9/11 disaster needs", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 27 No. 3, pp. 321-333. https://doi.org/10.1108/DPM-01-2018-0026
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited