Greene NY Medical Reserve Corps

New Member Orientation (MRC 101)

July 10, 2014

Introduction

• Provide information on the history/mission Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)

• Discuss the implementation of the MRC for Greene County.

• Describe the role and expectations of MRC volunteers

• Describe the activation protocol

History

• “Amerithrax”• Following September 11th attacks

– Thousands of unaffiliated volunteers show up at sites• No way to ID or credential• Not covered under liability laws

History

• 2002 State of the Union Address

• Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR-VHP)

Division of Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (DCVMRC)

• Office of Surgeon General

• Provides guidance, strategic planning, information sharing

• MRC Regional Coordinators

DCVMRC Mission & Vision

• The mission of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is to improve the health and safety of communities across the country by organizing public health, medical and other volunteers.

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

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

New York State

• ServNY meets the ESAR-VHP requirements

• State Volunteer Coordinator

• Local units are integrated with local and state public health planning and response activities

Greene NY MRC

• Officially formed April 16, 2014

• Is housed within the Greene County Public Health Department

• Is one of 997 MRCs nationwide and 207,720 volunteers strong

• Uses existing ServNY database to register and credential members

Greene NY MRC

The mission of the Greene NY Medical Reserve Corps(MRC) is to mobilize trained medical and non-medical volunteers to effectively support public health operations and foster community resiliency within Greene County through training, exercises and response to real-world events.

Membership

• Active, inactive, or retired health professionals• Non-medical volunteers are highly encouraged

to participate as well• Medical/nursing students• Various experience levels• Various backgrounds• Desire to be an active

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Membership• 53 Clinical Volunteers. Licenses include: MD, NP, RN,

LPN, DVM, EMT, & RT• 15 Non-medical volunteers• Online registration through ServNY• Newsletter• Quarterly MRC Activation Drills (IHANS)• Regular trainings• Members included in emergency preparedness drills

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MRC Service Area• MRC members will be called upon to assist with

events/emergencies occurring within Greene County

• Some MRC members elected to also respond to state and/or federal emergencies when they registered via the ServNY database.

The decision to accept/decline any assignment is always at the discretion of the volunteer

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What Will I Be Asked To Do?• During an emergency:

o Augment medical and support staff shortages at medical or shelter facilities

o Assist with the distribution or dispensing of equipment, supplies, and/or medication

o Assist with disease surveillance and/or investigation

o Provide administrative support services

Photo: Nurse Kathleen McCarthy during Tdap vaccinations post-Hurricane Irene

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What Will I Be Asked To Do?• During times of non-

emergency:o Invited to attend MRC trainingso Assist at community flu clinics

and other immunization clinicso Assist with volunteer

recruitmento Participate in disaster drills and

exercises

Photo: Bryan McDonald (Cornell Intern), Helene Garden, Kim Kaplan during Greene County Youth Fair, Summer 2013

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How Will We Be Contacted? • During times of emergency:

o The primary method of contact will be via phone using an automatic “call down” system.o Quarterly activation calls

o Situation-dependent, the media, e-mail, and other methods may be utilized simultaneously.

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How Will We Be Contacted? • Non-emergency & Administrative Issues:

o E-mail is the primary means of communicationo Newslettero Training Announcementso Recruitment for drills and flu clinics

o MRC Coordinator is available for visits, messages, phone calls

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Volunteer Contact Information

• Information provided in the ServNY database will be used to contact members.

All members must keep contact information current and complete.

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Activation ProtocolLocal Emergency Occurs:• Activation through five phases

o Phase 1: Alerto Phase 2: Activationo Phase 3: Operationso Phase 4: Demobilizationo Phase 5: Debrief

Depletion of local resources:• County contacts State Emergency Management to

request state assets

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What is Expected of Members?• Members should:

o Registration completion on ServNY including current licensure information (if applicable)

o Attend Volunteer Orientationo Attend ICS-100 and IS-700, or

provide proof of completiono Follow procedures to receive IDo Be familiar with the MRC

Handbooko Maintain all client confidentialityo Personal preparedness

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Incident Command System (ICS)• The ICS system is used to manage an emergency

incident or a non-emergency event. It can be used equally well for both small and large situations.

• ICS has been used to manage incidents such as fires, earthquakes, hurricanes and acts of terrorism.

• ICS can also be used for events that include planning and operations such as a holiday event, parade, and/or fair.

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Modular Organization• Develops in a top-down, modular fashion. • Based on size and complexity of incident(s).• Management by objectives.

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Modular Organization• COMMAND

– Has the overall responsibility at the incident or event– Make strategic goals

• OPERATIONS– Directs all “boots on the ground” resources– Conducts tactical operations to carry out the plan (POD Workers)

• PLANNING– Develops the action plan to accomplish the objective

• LOGISTICS– Provides support to meet incident needs– Obtain stuff

• FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION– Monitors costs related to incident– Provides accounting Procurement Time recording

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Sign-Up• Register to be a volunteer by visiting

www.greenegovernment.com/public-health/ and clicking on the “Public Health Volunteer Sign-Up.”

• You will be directed to our Greene NY MRC page.

• You MUST register on the New York State website as registration provides state liability coverage in times of disaster.

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Questions?

Suggestions? We want to hear from you! Do you have an idea which you think the Greene MRC could benefit from?