Special Population Planning creates a method for providing emergency responders in a Wisconsin county with a medical registry for special populations that may require assistance during an emergency. Although the service is based on an all-hazards approach, it could be useful during a pandemic. The registry is voluntary, free, and based on an application process, and it appears to be a low-cost project that could prove highly beneficial to the community. The materials include a useful set of communication guidelines for use by emergency responders who are addressing people with special needs. Also included are templates and sample letters that could easily be adopted by other communities. One reviewer said that the documents would be of great value in aiding public health departments as they conceptualize their special needs registry capability.
One concern is the planned reliance on hard copy notices during an emergency event; this may not be practical during a time-sensitive response. The registration letters are thorough and well thought out, although registering agencies may need to frequently contact people without Internet access to update personal information. The registry was developed for a county in western Wisconsin, and it may need further development if it were applied to a jurisdiction that served a highly transient population. A reviewer expressed concerns about the issue of sharing information about an individual's health condition outside of the agency for GIS purposes, especially in cases where HIPAA regulations may prohibit disclosure of an individual's HIV or mental health status. This practice is a notable model that attends to the special needs of community members in an efficient, respectful, and cost-effective manner. It is also well thought out, organized, and easy to read.
