Those on WTC registry must compete survey

New York health department officials say only a few days remain for World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees to complete follow-up surveys. Mark Farfel, director of the World Trade Center Health Registry, said 60 percent of rescue/recovery workers and volunteers, residents and passers-by have provided updates on their physical and mental health 10 years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack that destroyed the WTC Twin Towers. WTC Health Registry officials are hoping the remaining 40 percent of enrollees will complete the survey by Sunday. Enrollees can contact the registry by e-mail atwtchr@health.nyc.gov or by phone at 1-866-692-9827. "We strongly encourage all WTC Health Registry enrollees who haven't responded yet to take just 20 minutes to tell us about their current health," Farfel said in a statement. "Answers to new questions about healthcare access will help us assess potential gaps in care and provide referrals to federally funded health monitoring and treatment services for both WTC responders and survivors." The third major health survey was sent last summer to more than 68,000 adults in the WTC Health Registry who were exposed to the WTC attacks and the aftermath, including nearly 13,000 who currently reside outside the New York/New Jersey area. A survey of more than 1,200 adolescents in the registry began last November and will last into the spring. The registry's 2011/2012 health survey is available in English, Spanish and Chinese and enrollees can respond using mail, phone or Internet.