# Presentation: 672996

## Medical Reserve Corps 101

**U.S. Department of Health and Human Services****Office of the Surgeon General**

## Purpose

- Provide an introduction to the Medical Reserve Corps
- Discuss key issues pertaining to the establishment

## Learning Objectives

- Describe the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) concept
- Discuss how MRC units vary depending on the needs of the local community
- Describe potential ways to get involved with local MRC units

## Intended Audience

- Individuals interested in the MRC
- Medical and public health professionals
- Local government officials and other key stakeholder groups (e.g., hospital administrators and business leaders)
- Individuals interested in supporting community public health activities

## MRC Vision

- A nationwide network of organized volunteers strengthening the health and safety of their communities

## Mission of the Medical Reserve Corps

- The mission of the _[Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) ](http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/)__is to improve the health and safety of communities across the country by organizing public health, medical and other volunteers _

## MRC Concept

- Establish groups of volunteers with interest in strengthening local public health system and  providing help in emergencies
- Organize/utilize locally
- Integrate with existing programs and resources
- Identify, credential, train and prepare in advance
- Include medical and public health professionals, and others

**Notes:**
MRC units are not first responders, but rather they assist and support existing community response resources.
MRC volunteers are a pool of pre-identified, credentialed and trained volunteers who can help supplement ongoing and emergent health activities.

## MRC Concept

- Foster Community Resiliency!
- Get all response partners to the table with a common goal
- Strengthening the “everyday” public health system will improve community preparedness
- Prepared Communities
- 	→ Prepared States
- 		→ Prepared Nation

**Notes:**
The key to the MRC concept is that local community resources are matched to local needs. 
MRC units are there to help assist when local resources are overwhelmed.
MRCs can help communities be more resilient.  A prepared community makes a more resilient state and more prepared state makes a more resilient nation.

## Local MRC StoryUpper Merrimack Valley (MA) MRC – May 2006 Flooding 

**BACKGROUND** - A flooding disaster across New England had a major impact in the Upper Merrimack Valley (northwest of Boston, Massachusetts) in May 2006. A call-out of the MRC by the City of Lowell deployed 53 members of the UMV MRC, shortly after the needs were first identified by the director of the Board of Health in Lowell. The MRC unit served from May 15 to 17 in a variety of roles, and received the highest accolades afterwards. (See the web story at _[http://www.merrimackvalleymrc.org/latestnews/Flooddeployment/flooddeployment_06.htm](http://www.merrimackvalleymrc.org/latestnews/Flooddeployment/flooddeployment_06.htm)__ )_

- Photo credit - Nancy Burns (MRC Coordinator), Roland Gauthier (volunteer), and Pauline Ray (volunteer) – deployed to assist the Council on Aging Special Needs Shelter

**Notes:**
RECAP of Activation:
Dates of UMV MRC deployment: May 15 to 17, 2006
Area affected by flooding disaster: Much of New England
Area where our local MRC assisted: Upper Merrimack Valley (Lowell area)
Number of residents in the Upper Merrimack Valley: 270,000
Number of towns affected: Four (of the seven in the UMV)
Entity requesting help: Board of Health Director – City of Lowell
Activated by Sandy Collins, RN – serving dual roles:
UMV MRC Director
Director of Health Care Services for the Town of Westford
Purpose: Volunteer medical support 
Number of members deployed: 53
Activities performed:
Initial tour of disaster area (Director & Coordinator), to allocate support:
- Special-needs shelter care (Council on Aging)
- General-public shelter care (Lowell High School)
- Hospital backfill for surge capacity (displaced nursing home evacuees)
- Phone calls: deployment and scheduling
- Administrative help: medical and intake forms, other
- Data gathering, for deployment statistics and tracking
Interesting details:
One of the earliest replies to the call-out came from as far away as Mississippi!!! One of our most seasoned members had taken the week to serve at a post-Katrina relief clinic, but felt it was important to get back to us right away. She wished us well, and said she’d have joined us if she could.
MRC support was so proficient during hospital backfill, a staff member for displaced elders from a nursing home was excused, in favor of service by an MRC volunteer.
As with other deployments, we were able to draw on a full range of skill levels: from advanced medical care to administrative support. Each disaster arrives with unpredictable requirements for help, so we were versatile enough to be ready.
Lessons-learned: The disaster revealed larger than expected numbers of special-needs populations across the region: homeless, handicapped, drug addicted, mentally impaired, those living with debilitating conditions. Many of these local residents would have been institutionalized in previous years. We discovered the hard way that those performing evacuations hadn’t been given any direction on where to place these residents – whose care would not have been sufficient in a general-purpose shelter. Many required skilled nursing and focused attention, adjustment of medications; were unable to lie flat on a cot, and had other health concerns

## History

- Following 9-11 attacks
- Thousands of unaffiliated volunteers show up at sites
- No way to ID or credential
- Not covered under liability laws
- No Incident Command System (ICS) training
- Difficult to manage
- President George W. Bush 2002 State of the Union
- Partner program with White House’s _[USA Freedom Corps](http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov/)__ and DHS’ __[Citizen Corps](http://www.citizencorps.gov/)_

**Notes:**
The thousands of volunteers that showed up at the various attack sites after 9/11 – were unable to be used due to issues of liability, identification, and management.  The recognition of the desire of volunteers to help and the subsequent underutilization of them became the genesis of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC).  Launched formally in July 2002, the MRC is housed in the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General of the Department of Health and Human Services.  The MRC was created to provide a format for medical and public health professionals to volunteer their time and expertise in their communities in times of great need, as well as for ongoing public health initiatives. 
The MRC is a partner of the White House’s USA Freedom Corps, which is the White House’s volunteer initiative.  And is a founding partner of the Department of Homeland Security’s Citizen Corps, was created to help coordinate volunteer activities that will make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any emergency situation. 

## Slide 11

**Notes:**
Graphic representation of the partnerships between MRC and the other Citizen Corps partner programs and the overarching White House volunteer initiative, USA Freedom Corps.

## MRC Program Office

- Housed in the _[Office of the Surgeon General](http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/)_
- Supports local efforts to establish, implement, and sustain MRC units nationwide
- Goals:
- Providing effective national leadership and coordination
- Promoting awareness and understanding of the critical role that MRC units play in communities across the nation
- Enhancing the capacity of MRC units to achieve their local missions

**Notes:**
The MRC Program Office functions as a clearinghouse for information and best practices to help communities establish, implement, and maintain MRC units nationwide.
The MRC Program Office sponsors an annual leadership conference, hosts a Web site, and coordinates with local, state, regional, and national organizations and agencies to help communities achieve their local visions for public health and emergency preparedness. 

## Status - Current Local Units

- Visit the MRC website
- _[http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/FindMRC.asp](http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/FindMRC.asp)__ _
- to find up-to-date information on the MRC unit in your community.

**Notes:**
This is a screen capture of map the shows locations of current MRC units. 
Unit data is as of April 11, 2007.  
This map is updated every time a new unit is added to the MRC website – please visit the MRC website URL link listed in the slide for the most current and up-to-date unit information.

## Status – Volunteer Numbers

- There are currently more than 120,000 MRC volunteers from a variety of health and medical professions, as well as other community volunteers (see chart below for volunteers according to professions):

**Notes:**
Volunteer numbers and statistics – are as April 11, 2007
Since MRC leaders are encouraged to evaluate the needs of their community and identify volunteers that will help them meet those needs, MRC recruitment is done at the local level.  What types of volunteers are recruited are dependent upon what types of activities the local MRC participates in. Local resources are matched to community needs.

## How Can an MRC Benefit Your Community?

- Resiliency – not as reliant on state and national resources
- Meet identified health needs/gaps
- Bolster public health and emergency response infrastructures
- Give community members an opportunity to help make their communities healthier and safer
- Provide mechanisms for information sharing and coordination between partner organizations
- Allow for national recognition of local public health and emergency response efforts

## MRC Models

- No “typical” MRC
- All MRC units:
- Provide an organizational structure for managing and utilizing members
- Pre-identify members
- Screen members, including verification of professional licensure/certification
- Train/prepare members
- Units vary by:
- Types/#s of volunteers
- Sponsor organizations
- Partner organizations
- Mission/focus

## Why Not One Model?

- Local leaders determine the model that best fits their community needs
- Population
- Geography
- Community government structure
- Health needs
- Other unique community factors
- Differing laws and local government structure
- one “size” does not fit all

## Volunteers

- Types/# of Volunteers - local decision based on local needs
- May include those in training, in active practice, or retired
- Medical and public health professionals
- Persons with no health experience who can help with communications, administration, logistics, and other essential functions

- Health Departments
- Boards of Health
- Medical Centers/Hospitals
- Medical Societies
- Emergency Management
- Citizen Corps Councils
- Police/Fire Departments

- Volunteer Centers
- Faith Based Organizations
- Regional Planning Groups
- Medical Societies
- Non-Profit Community Organizations
- Others...

- Sponsor Organizations

**Notes:**
Local MRC units are not first responders and must have a housing organization to activate them for a response.  
The housing organization also provides legal protections, credentialing standards, activation procedures, as well as other organizational and administrative needs for the unit. 
Above is a list of some of the housing organizations that current MRC units fall under, but this is not an exhaustive list.  

- Health Departments
- Boards of Health
- Health Care Systems/Hospitals/Clinics
- Medical Retiree Groups
- Emergency Management
- Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs)
- Police and Fire Departments
- Community-Based Disaster Groups
- Healthcare Outreach Coalitions
- Retired and Senior Volunteer Programs

- Schools and Universities
- Emergency Medical Services
- Military Organizations/National Guard
- Neighborhood Associations
- City Attorney Offices
- Local Businesses/Corporations
- Others...

- Partners

**Notes:**
Local MRC units are involved in a variety of activities – anything from public health education in schools to epidemiological studies of bird deaths to disaster response.  
Dependent upon the needs of their local community, an MRC unit may need to partner or work with a variety of local response agencies and organizations to meet their mission and goals.  
Above is a list of potential local partner organizations, but this list is not exhaustive.

## Mission/Roles

- We encourage MRC unit leaders and members to serve as “Ambassadors” of the U.S. Surgeon General (SG)...support _[SGs](http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/)__[ Priorities for Public Health ](http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/)_
- Increase disease/injury prevention
- Eliminate health disparities
- Improve public health preparedness
- Promote Health Literacy

## Roles

- MRC members can have a profound impact on
- the health and safety of their community
- Examples:
- Serve as MRC leaders
- Provide medical care, administer vaccines and dispense medications
- Provide health education as part of a local public health initiative
- Provide counseling for victims, families and responders
- Promote preparedness
- Provide administrative, logistical and communications support

**Notes:**
These are only a few examples of the roles that MRC volunteers can play in their community.  
Local units support and assist their community’s existing resources – so roles/activities of MRC units depend on the needs of the local community
Those interested are encouraged to contact units in their area or state for more information on what activities local units are participating in

## Recent MRC Activities:Support Existing Public Health Resources

- Recent MRC Activities:Support Existing Public Health Resources

**Natrona Co (WY) MRC – **_Firefighter Rehabilitation Trailer Ongoing_.  When the fire department is called out to a fire, the NCMRC follows the fire units out with their trailer.  The NCMRC provides rehabilitation services to the fire fighters and medical support staff. Over the last year the NCMRC has responded with their trailer at least 5 times – once for an 8-day response to the Jackson Canyon Fire (expending over 339 volunteer man hours).

**Nebraska/ Western Iowa (NE) MRC** - _College World Series 2005 and 2006. _ Provided medical care during the both World Series events.

**Virginia Beach (VA) MRC** – _Flu Vaccination Clinic for Homeless 1/25 & 1/26__**.**_**  **Virginia Beach Department of Human Services does a homeless Count each year in Virginia Beach.  The VB Health Department asked the MRC to assist with the provision of flu shots to the homeless. Five MRC nurses were activated from 3pm-midnight on 1/25 and 8am-11am on 1/26 to give flu shots and take blood pressure.  Volunteers sometimes worked without heat in the three tents set-up for the event.

## Recent MRC Activities:Support Existing Emergency Resources

**Bergen Co (NJ) MRC **
- _Point-of-Dispensing site TOPOFF 3._ Volunteers, including pharmacists, participated in the POD activities for the TOPOFF 3 exercise.

**East Central Health District (GA) MRC** – _FAA Exercise_.  The scenario was that two planes collided on the runway and that the victims had fuel contamination.  The ECHD MRC was called out in support of the NDMS unit during this exercise.  MRC volunteers provided triage and treatment of victims.

**Albuquerque (NM) MRC** – _Evacuee Shelter – 2005 Hurricane Response_.  Volunteers performed a variety of roles – provided primary care triage, assisted with public health surveillance and epidemiology of patients, collected ongoing data regarding suspected infectious syndrome, as well as others.

## Other Recent MRC Activities

- Visit the _[Did You Know ](http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/DidYouKnow.asp?dyk=87)__section of the MRC_
- website to read more on recent activities
- MRC units have held to make a difference in
- their communities.

## Ways to get involved

- Volunteer
- Partner
- Establish

## How To Volunteer with a Local MRC

- Get in touch with local unit
- If there is no unit in your area, talk to local leaders (i.e. health department, board of health or emergency management agency) about starting an MRC unit in your community

**Notes:**
Local MRC volunteers throughout the country are supporting a variety of community programs.
What activities each unit participates in depends upon the needs of their community and the existing resources to meet those needs. 
If you are interested in getting involved in the MRC – contact your local unit and find out what activities they are involved in and how you can apply to participate.

## Finding A Local MRC - 1

- Visit Find MRC Units
- Select a state and click Go...

## Finding a Local MRC - 2

- A list of units within that state will come up
- Click on the unit name that you are interested in...

## Finding a Local MRC - 3

- Scroll through the page to view unit information, including contact information and a list of recent activities

## How to Partner with a Local MRC

- Contact the unit coordinator to learn what roles have already been identified for volunteers
- Work with the local unit to determine how you can partner with the local unit
- Additional types of volunteers would be needed, what training would be needed/could be provided
- Other types of resources MRC may need
- Incidents you may need MRC to respond to

## How to Establish an MRC Unit

- Determine/assess community needs
- Partner with local key stakeholders to organize and establish an MRC unit that is right for your community
- Consult the MRC Technical Assistance Series – a guide to get you started
- Talk with other MRC units in your region – they have valuable information on what is takes to start an MRC
- Contact Regional and State MRC Coordinators

**Notes:**
It is important to bring all community stakeholders to the table in the beginning – this allows for a better creation of mission, goals, and procedures of the MRC unit.  Which in the end – allows the community to better plan and utilize the MRC throughout the year and during times of crisis.
MRC Regional Coordinators are in all 10 of the Department of Health and Human Services regions and provide hands-on technical assistance to potential and existing MRC units.  
MRC State Coordinators are appointed by their states and serve to facilitate coordination between the states and the local MRC units, as well as, the coordination between states and the MRC Program Office

## Resources and Support Available

- MRC Program Office
- National website with message board and Promising Practices section and much more.... www.medicalreservecorps.gov
- National Newsletter – MRC InFocus
- _[Technical Assistance Series](http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/TASeries)_
- National Leadership and Training Conference
- National topic-focused working groups
- Outreach to national partner organizations
- _[NACCHO](http://www.naccho.org/)_
- _[NALBOH](http://www.nalboh.org/)_
- _[MRC-TRAIN](https://www.train.org/DesktopShell.aspx)__ _
- Others...
- Regional Coordinators
- Technical assistance by phone, e-mail, or in person
- Newsletter
- Regional meetings
- Other MRC Units
- Statewide meetings
- State Coordination

**Notes:**
The MRC Program Office creates and/or leverages from a variety of organizations and agencies tools and resources for communities and local units to use to establish and maintain their units.  Local MRC units, based on their community needs, choose which of these resources makes sense for their unit and community.

## For More Information:

- MRC Program Office:
- Tel. (301) 443-4951
- MRCcontact@hhs.gov
- _[www.medicalreservecorps.gov](http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/)_
- MRC Regional Coordinators:
- _[http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/Coordinators/Regional](http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/Coordinators/Regional)_
- MRC State Coordinators:
- _[http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/Coordinators/State](http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/Coordinators/State)_