worcester regional medical reserve corps

Worcester Regional Medical Reserve Corps

Liz Foley, Coordinator

Worcester Regional MRC

04/21/23 3Worcester Regional MRC

What is the MRC?

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) was founded after President The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) was founded after President Bush’s 2002 State of the Union Address in which he asked all Bush’s 2002 State of the Union Address in which he asked all Americans to volunteer in support of their country. Americans to volunteer in support of their country.

The program is federally recognized and operates under direct The program is federally recognized and operates under direct control of the Surgeon General’s office.control of the Surgeon General’s office.

Why the MRC? The MRC provides the structure necessary to pre-Why the MRC? The MRC provides the structure necessary to pre-identify, credential, train, and activate medical and public health identify, credential, train, and activate medical and public health volunteers.volunteers.

Engages volunteers to strengthen public health, emergency response,

and community resiliency


• 985 MRC Units in the United States

•46 Units in MA

91.16% of population covered

73.69% of US area covered

What is the MRC?


Who is the MRC?

Over 204,759 volunteers nationwide Physicians Physician Assistants Nurse Practitioners Registered Nurses Dentists Veterinarians Clergy

Pharmacists Mental Health Professionals EMTs and Paramedics Epidemiologists Health Educators Social Workers Non-Medical Professionals


Volunteers of Public Health


The Worcester Regional MRC(WRMRC)

Created by the Worcester Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) in 2006 The WRMRC is overseen by Worcester Division of

Public Health

3 Units Cover 74 towns in the Massachusetts Public Health Region 2

Recruits medical and non-medical professionals to volunteer to assist in the event of a local or regional emergency

Cities and towns covered by WRMRC


Other MRCs in this Region

Wachusett MRCP.O. Box 555Hubbardston, MA 01452

978-928-4086

[email protected]

Greater Grafton MRC30 Providence RoadGrafton, MA 01519508-839-5335 ext.128

www.town.grafton.ma.us




Mission: Provide public health volunteer medical services that supplement existing resources in case of disaster

Key Areas: promote public health and safety 1. Public Health Emergencies 2. Mass Casualty Incidents 3. Community Service Activities

MRC volunteers agree to deploy after they MRC volunteers agree to deploy after they have fulfilled their obligations to have fulfilled their obligations to

Their familiesTheir families Their workTheir work



• Monthly orientationMonthly orientation

• Monthly training (core competency) Monthly training (core competency) Orientation Basic First Aid BLS CPR/AED or BLS for Healthcare Professional ICS-100 (Incident Command System) NIMS-700 Emergency Dispensing Sites (EDS) Operations Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Mental Health Aspects of Emergencies and Disasters for Non-Mental

Health Professionals

What We Offer

Objectives Personal Preparedness Chain of Command Role of local MRC Unit Volunteer Communication Mental Health impact of events Procedures Volunteer roles and limitations


Core Competencies

Public Health Emergencies Preparedness

and Response Drills/exercises Real events


Mass Casualty Incidents

Medical volunteers may be asked to assist with triage and treatment of victims at the scene of a mass casualty incident.

Non-medical volunteers can assist with dispensing equipment at the scene.


Community Service

Blood pressure screening/preventive health events

Health fairs

First aid tents



Deployment/Activation Details WRMRC will receive a request for assistance

Automated alerting system will be activated

Volunteers will follow directions given by the automated system.

Or

Volunteers will be notified by E-mail with specific instructions


Deployment/Activation Details

Id badges provided to all volunteers

Volunteers must be personally prepared: Appropriate clothing, any personal items that are needed including medications and personal snacks.

Typically a debriefing will take place after large scale incidents

Personal Preparednesswww.ready.gov

Be prepared to exist for first 72-hours after a disaster

Plan kit according to individual and family needs Are you elderly? Do you have a baby? Other special

considerations?

Inventory contents every 6 months; make changes as necessary Seasonal changes, expiration dates



“Go Kit” ContentsWaterFoodFirst AidTools Household SuppliesClothingBeddingFlashlight/RadioMedicationBatteriesComfort Items Specific Needs

Additional training and resources

Memorandum of Understanding with the Red Cross Shelter Operations/Shelter Simulations

Courses hosted by other MRCs Other courses and training events at state

and national level MRC “handbook”



Liability Protection

Massachusetts Department of Public Health Volunteers and Liability Handout

Federal Volunteer Protection Act 42 U.S.C 14501.

Doctors and Nurses Working in Public Health Programs Mass. General Laws, Chapter 112, 12C

Good Samaritan Laws Various provisions of Mass. General Laws

Protection for EMS Personnel Mass. General Laws, chapter 111C, 21

Protection for Public Employees Mass. Tort Claims Act, General Laws, chapter 258


Liability Protection

Deployment Expectations:

Follow the chain of command.

Stick to assigned duties.

Don’t do anything you aren’t comfortable with – no matter who asks you.

Working with other MRCs in the State to lobby for expansion of the coverage of the Good Samaritan Act

MA RespondsStatewide Database

- Created to pre-register, manage, mobilize existing clinical and non-clinical volunteers

- Helps responding to all types of disasters efficient.

Volunteers have the opportunity to create a profile Website has the ability to send various notifications

(message, email, call, text) CORIs/SORIs done and Credentialing will be kept current



Badging Each volunteer will receive a badge.

The badge will be color coded by professional category. Medical Personnel - Red Basic Medical Personnel (medical personnel medical personnel

that are not able to administer medications i.e. that are not able to administer medications i.e. EMT's, physical therapists, occupational EMT's, physical therapists, occupational therapists, etc.) - therapists, etc.) - BlueBlue

Mental Health Personnel - Purple Non-Medical Personnel- Green


Should you become a volunteer with the MRC?

Flexible time commitment Free trainings Opportunities to participate in community events Ability to volunteer should you wish during large scale emergencies and disasters


We can never have too many volunteers!

Disasters are never what you expect!

We need to be prepared for severe

weather events!

Finally...

Websites

WorcesterRegionalMRC.org

MAmedicalreservecorps.org

Medicalreservecorps.gov

Social MediaSocial Media

Facebook -

Worcester Regional Medical Reserve Corps (WRMRC)Worcester Regional Medical Reserve Corps (WRMRC)

Twitter -

@WRMRC


Find out more…


Questions?


For More Information…

Visit website: WorcesterRegionalMRC.org Or contact:

Liz FoleyWorcester Regional Medical Reserve Corps

c/o Department of Public Health25 Meade St. Office 206

Worcester, MA 01610 (508) 799-8470

[email protected]

worcester regional medical reserve corps

Documents

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