1. The Medical Reserve Corps: An Overview

2. In a Nutshell
MRC GEM is the Georgia East Metro Health District Medical Reserve Corps, Inc.
We are a non-profit corporation working closely with local health departments, emergency managers, and homeland security.

3. In a Nutshell
We serve the health and emergency preparedness needs of Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale Counties.
We are always happy to have new volunteers join us. All volunteers are welcome to participate as part of the MRC GEM management team, too.

4. WHAT IS THE MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS (MRC)?
Origin of the MRC
Purpose of a Local MRC Unit
Who Serves in an MRC Unit?
MRC Activities
Justification for the MRC (MEMS)

6. ORIGIN OF THE MRC
Created by the President in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Begun with Federal grant program.
Component of the Citizen Corps, which is part of the USA Freedom Corps.
Guided by the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General.
This program emerges from a call to service President Bush issued during his 2002 State of the Union Address and is a component of the USA Freedom Corps. President Bush tasked the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), under Secretary Tommy Thompson, with developing and implementing the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). In response, Secretary Thompson assigned the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG) lead responsibility within DHHS for developing a program that would promote and support the development of the MRC.

7. PURPOSE OF A LOCAL MRC UNIT
Recruit and credential volunteers before the time of crisis.
Strengthen communities by providing a ready reserve capacity to respond to emergencies.
Provides organized volunteer opportunities for local citizens.
Assist with ongoing public health needs by working to improve the overall health and well being of communities.
After September 11, 2001, thousands upon thousands of volunteers responded to the national tragedy providing sorely needed resources in numerous ways. Many more Americans asked, "What can I do to help?" The Medical Reserve Corps brings volunteers - health professionals and others - together to supplement existing local emergency plans and resources in cities, towns, and counties throughout the United States. In order to be most effective during times of emergency, volunteers must be organized and trained to work in emergency situations. The Medical Reserve Corps is designed to provide that organizational structure and promote appropriate training of volunteers for communities.
MRC units assist local health departments and emergency response partners in preparing for and responding to large-scale emergencies, such as an tornadoes, influenza epidemic, hazardous material spills, or act of terrorism. In addition, volunteers may work to improve the overall health and well being of their communities by engaging in public health initiatives such as community vaccination clinics, health education campaigns and health fairs throughout the year.

9. WHO SERVES IN A MRC UNIT? Anyone can join and make a difference!
Volunteers who possess non-medical skills and diverse training backgrounds.
Volunteers who are licensed active, inactive, or retired health care professionals.
Public health professionals.
Anyone can join and make a difference!
Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units include non-medically trained volunteers as well as medically trained volunteers who desire to assist local health departments and emergency response partners during emergencies and with ongoing public health needs.
Persons who do not have health training or experience may volunteer to provide basic support services such as: planning, data entry, fundraising, volunteer management, interpreting, counseling, transportation, communications, clerical and administrative assistance, and facilities management.
Licensed active, inactive or retired health care professionals who wish to volunteer may include: physicians of any specialty, dentists, dental assistants, mental health professionals, veterinarians, epidemiologists, pharmacists, physician assistants, public health experts, health educators, healthcare administrators, technicians, RNs, nurse practitioners, LPNs, nursing assistants, former military personnel with medical training, nutritionists, environmental health specialists, social workers, students in the health professions, etc.
Each MRC volunteer receives training, assistance, and supervision from the East Metro Health District’s MRC Program Coordinator and other District staff members.

12. MRC ACTIVITIES Emergency response planning.
Assistance with ongoing Public Health activities and events.
Meet staffing shortage gaps during Public Health emergencies.
Provide surge capacity staffing during the Activation of the Modular Emergency Medical System (MEMS).
Medical Reserve Corps volunteers may need to be available for helping a community plan its response to numerous health related situations. They can assist with developing plans for vector (animals that cause disease in humans) control, animal care during disasters, distribution of pharmaceuticals, mass immunization and provide numerous tasks to help a community deal with public health issues when there is a shortage of regular health care providers or health care support staff.
During emergencies, Medical Reserve Corps volunteers may also provide an important “surge” capability to perform some functions usually performed by emergency health staff who have been mobilized. Volunteers may also need to augment support staff shortages at local medical or emergency facilities.

15. JUSTIFICATION FOR THE MRC Modular Emergency Medical System (MEMS)
Developed by the Department of Defense.
Adopted in our Health District by our community health partners.
Allows us to address different size emergencies.
Adaptable to “all-hazards” events.
Comprising of four components.
The Modular Emergency Medical System (MEMS) was developed by the Department of Defense, and was adopted by our countywide health and support group in It allows the health departments and the medical community to address different large scale emergencies and it is adaptable to biological and all hazards events such as: tornadoes, earthquakes, hazardous material spills and floods. Thousands of volunteers would be needed to activate the MEMS plan.

16. FOUR COMPONENTS OF MEMS
NEHC- Neighborhood Emergency Help Clinics.
ACC- Acute Care Centers.
Mass Prophylaxis / Mass Vaccination.
CTS- Casualty Transportation System.
Neighborhood Emergency Help Clinics are designed to see 1,000 persons per 24 hours and provide triage, minor treatment, and information.
Acute Care Centers are designed to tract biological/mass disaster patients who require inpatient treatment but do not require mechanical ventilation or those likely to die from an illness resulting form a bioterrorism agent. The ACC module size is 1,000 beds divided into 250 bed pods further divided into 50 bed subunits.
Mass Prophylaxis and Mass Vaccination is the high volume dispensing of antibiotics or administering of vaccines such as smallpox or flu vaccine. This component is designed to address the needs to protect first responders, support personnel and prioritize distribution vaccine and antibiotics in the community during a bioterrorism event or disease epidemic.
The Casualty Transportation System would coordinate transportation in all areas of MEMS services.

17. MRC VOLUNTEERS Benefits of Volunteering.
Basic Requirements for Volunteers.
Liability Issues.
Application and Approval Process.

18. BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING
Opportunity to serve the community and its citizens during times of need.
Being among the first to receive vaccinations or other treatment during a bioterrorism event or disease outbreak.
Free continuing education opportunities.
During times of crisis, it is natural to want to serve others through volunteerism. Whether it is providing help during a flood or manning a phone bank to help victims find sorely needed resources, there is a role we can all play. MRC volunteers are trained to provide assistance during a bioterrorism or natural public health disaster within their community. These critical roles will help save and protect lives.
MRC volunteers and their immediate family members will also be among the first group of people to receive necessary vaccinations or antibiotics in the event of a bioterrorism disease outbreak or a naturally occurring disease epidemic or outbreak. This is an important benefit to volunteering because volunteers and their immediate family members will not have to wait with the “general public” to receive emergency vaccinations or antibiotics.
Continuing education opportunities will be offered at no charge to volunteers via self-study reading, CD ROM, or via the internet. Continuing Education Units, or CEUs, are often available for many of the learning activities.

19. BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR VOLUNTEERS
Skills/Certifications/Training.
Credentials/Reference Check.
Citizenship Status.
Drug / Chemical Free.
All MRC volunteers should possess current certification in basic first aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), consistent with the standards of the American Heart Association, American Red Cross or another recognized organization. Volunteers should be willing to attend training to obtain these credentials if they are not currently certified. We will also ask each volunteer to attend several 2-3 sessions to learn basic skills needed to be an effective MRC members. There will be many other opportunities to obtain new skills and learn about important public health and emergency preparedness and response issues. Members must also be willing to undergo a background check. Members holding medical licenses must be able to provide information about their licenses.
MRC Unit ID badges will be issued and each volunteer will be responsible for providing this identification to credentialing staff if they are called to service.
United States citizenship is not required to be part of the Medical Reserve Corps. Non-citizen, legal U.S. residents are also welcome to volunteer and contribute their time, knowledge and skills to protecting and improving their communities.
Volunteers must remain drug free while engaged in any MRC activities.

20. LIABILITY ISSUES Volunteer Protection Act. “Good Samaritan” Law.
Homeowner and Renter Insurance Generally Includes Liability Coverage for Volunteer Activities.
The U.S. Government, health professionals, volunteer organizations and the local health departments are fully aware of the concerns that come with volunteering. All states provide some legal protections for an individual who provides emergency medical care or assistance at the scene of an accident or other emergency. Details regarding the Volunteer Protection Act and the “Good Samaritan” laws established can be provided if a person considering MRC Unit service requests this information.
Most homeowner and renter insurance includes coverage that will protect you against liability while acting in good faith as a volunteer. BE SURE TO READ YOUR POLICY CAREFULLY and consult with your agent or other insurance company representative.

21. APPLICATION AND APPROVAL PROCESS
Volunteer Application at
Background check.
FEMA IS-22, ARC Intro to Disaster course, CERT, or equivalent.
Full info on our web site
In order to be approved as a Medical Reserve Corp volunteer, all individuals must successfully complete the SERVGA Volunteer Services Application, pass a criminal background check, and learn the basics of disaster response.

22. Or log onto our website:
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact:
MRC GEM
Office
Or log onto our website:

23. Questions? Tony Varamo operations@mrcgem.com 678-634-4754 (cell)
Sherwin Levinson