title: VolunteerGet--a novel information system for engaging society in volunteering for emergency care.
abstract: This work presents VolunteerGet, a novel information system for engaging society in volunteering for emergency situations. We will use the social networking and location services infrastructure as a means of 1) registering volunteers and other users, 2) spreading the word on volunteering opportunities and increasing the volunteer database, 3) matching the users and volunteers at time and location of need. Such a system has the potential to promote volunteering as a social phenomenon and eventually reduce suffering and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01002, USA. vvaradar@engin.umass.edu
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Varadarajan
authors.forename: Aura
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganz
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006758:Hospital Volunteers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D008389:Marketing of Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D040241:Social Marketing; D012944:Social Support; D014584:User-Computer Interface