About the Delaware County Medical Reserve Corps (DC-MRC)
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program was officially launched as a national, community-based movement in July 2002. It was formed in response to President Bush’s call to all Americans to offer volunteer service in their communities. The MRC Program is a specialized component of the Citizen Corps Council, a national network of volunteers dedicated to making sure their families, homes, and communities are safe from terrorism, crime, and disasters of all kinds.
The purpose of the MRC Program is to strengthen communities by providing a structure for volunteers to offer their expertise in times of community need. The MRC is a local volunteer unit that supplements existing community emergency response systems during large-scale emergencies.
Our MISSION: The Delaware County Medical Reserve Corps, operating with community partners within the Delaware County Citizens Corps Council, will provide assistance in time of need and at the request of local healthcare and health service agencies and the local chapter of the American Red Cross to better protect and promote the health of all who live, work, and attend school in our county.
Delaware County MRC will serve as a source of Physicians, Nurses, EMT, Pharmacists, Dentists, Mental Health Professionals, Radiology Techs, Respiratory Therapists, Veterinarians, Chiropractors, Clerical Staff, and other Health Professionals who are willing to assist with public health and other medical functions during an emergency. MRC units are made of locally based volunteers who can assist their communities during emergencies, such as an influenza epidemic, a chemical spill, or an act of terrorism.
The Delaware County Medical Reserve Corps was established in June 2007. The Delaware County MRC is in need of licensed, certified or recently retired medical providers and licensed or paraprofessional behavioral health providers to register with the program.
Program Goal:
The primary goal of the Delaware County MRC is to establish a cadre of
volunteer medical and behavioral health providers who are trained and
available to respond in a public health emergency.
These providers will be able to:
- Respond to emergencies in an effective organized framework within a command and control structure
- Increase capacity of the existing health care system to respond to public health or community medical emergencies by providing patient evaluation, dispensing of medication or mass vaccination, or delivering health education
- Support mass patient care or hospital surge capacity needs
- Provide behavioral health support during and after a disaster
- Expand public health department capacity for disease control measures such as case finding and monitoring
- Improve overall health and well being of communities during and after a disaster
- Volunteer for possible deployment to communities in need nationwide.
