Rock Island County Medical Reserve Corps

The Rock Island County Health Department oversees the Rock Island County Medical Reserve Corps unit. The Rock Island County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) consists of volunteers (medical and non-medical personnel) who have offered to help in emergency situations. Our Mission is to recruit, train, and maintain a group of volunteers to assist with Public Health emergency response activities. Volunteers may assist the health department or assist our local hospitals when they are overwhelmed during an emergency such as a tornado or an influenza pandemic.

Volunteers may assist in a variety of ways such as nursing, clerical support, interpreters, lay counselors, and guides; just to name a few. Volunteers help fill in the gaps during emergencies when there may be staff shortages of both medical and non-medical workers. MRC volunteers receive training prior to such emergencies in order to improve our preparedness level and increase emergency response efficiency.

The Rock Island County MRC has included volunteers in multiple practice exercises and real live vaccination clinics, such as the 2009 Hepatitis A outbreak and the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic.

Application to join the Rock Island Medical Reserve Corps: http://www.richd.org/docs/EmergencyPreparedness/MRCApplication.pdf

What would MRC Staff do:

 Medical Volunteers may help public health distribute medicines or give vaccinations in mass clinics or supplement staff in area hospitals when they become overwhelmed with patients.

 Non-Medical Volunteers can fill key support positions such as; interpreters, chaplains, office workers, guides, and parking attendants, just to name a few.

 Participate in drills. Drills are practice exercises for health department staff, volunteers and community partners.

Why do we need an MRC?

 To assist public health response to a large-scale disease outbreak or bioterrorism event, such as pandemic influenza or release of anthrax.

 To supplement area hospitals with staff during emergency events.