A. Program Overview
- The Medical Volunteer Program brings together local health professionals and others with relevant health-related skills to volunteer in their community. These volunteers will assist the local, existing community emergency medical response system, as well as provide a group of readily trained and available resources to help the community manage pressing public health needs, improvements and education.
- The Medical Volunteer Program is sponsored by the San Luis Obispo Chapter of the American Red Cross (SLOARC) and shall be known as the San Luis Obispo County Medical Volunteer Program (SLOMVP).
- Volunteers will be recruited, screened, credentialed, and trained as both American Red Cross Disaster Services Volunteers and Public Health Department Disaster Service Worker Volunteers. When services are requested by the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services or the San Luis Obispo County Health Officer (or designee) for utilization in a Public Health Emergency, volunteers will be activated under the Medical Volunteer Program as Disaster Services Worker Volunteers and fall under policies and protections of San Luis Obispo County and the State of California.
- The SLOMVP is intended to supplement the resources of the existing community emergency medical response system, as well as contribute to meeting the public health needs of the community throughout the year. The Medical Volunteer Program will not replace or supplant the existing emergency medical response system or its resources. During emergencies, Medical Volunteer Program volunteers may provide an important “surge” capability to perform some functions usually performed by emergency medical response teams who have been mobilized. SLOMVP volunteers can also augment medical and support staff shortages at local medical or emergency facilities.
- The Medical Volunteer Program volunteers are also a good resource for helping the community plan its response to numerous health-related situations. For example, they can assist with the development of plans for animal care during disasters, distribution of pharmaceuticals and provide numerous tasks to help the community manage public health issues when there is a shortage of regular healthcare providers or healthcare support staff because of a local, man-made or natural disaster.
- The Medical Volunteer Program is primarily designed to assist and supplement the existing emergency medical response and public health systems in emergencies. However, volunteer personnel and resources may be utilized in non-emergency situations, depending on their availability and the approval of the Program Coordinator or SLO County Health Officer (or designee). Examples of activities that volunteers may participate in include flu shot clinics, Tuberculosis exposure follow-up and community education.
B. Purpose
The purpose of the San Luis Obispo County Medical Volunteer Program is to:
- Organize and train healthcare professionals to respond to the specific needs of the community, thereby enhancing local emergency response efforts, especially during large-scale local emergencies.
- Provide reserve capacity at the community level to respond to local public and community health needs and education.
- Create a framework to match medical volunteers’ skills with the needs of the community.
- Draw health professionals into volunteer service.
C. Mission
The mission of the San Luis Obispo County Medical Volunteer Program is to develop partnerships with medical professionals (active and retired) that aid in the education, training and deployment of citizen volunteers and resources in the event of a large scale, local emergency.
In addition the San Luis Obispo County Medical Volunteer Program will be utilized to enlist community volunteers to assist in the establishment of an organized pool of resources capable of being deployed to support Emergency Management Systems already in place in the event of a major emergency. The goal of the SLOMVP will be that of a support role providing volunteer medical professionals and resources to augment those services in the community that are engaged in the health and welfare of the citizenry.
D. Training
Training will familiarize volunteers with American Red Cross and San Luis Obispo County emergency policies and procedures. This will allow volunteers to serve as an American Red Cross and/or San Luis Obispo County Medical Volunteer Program volunteer.
American Red Cross Volunteer Requirements for Disaster Health Services Volunteer:
Additional requirements for Medical Volunteer Program:
Additional on the job training will be provided as needed.
For more information, please contact:
Program Coordinator Kathleen McDole
Mvpcoord@charterinternet.com (805) 543-0696 ext. 19
County Health Agency Department Operations Center
Michelle Shoresman
Bioterrorism Program Manager II
San Luis Obispo County Health Agency
mshoresman@co.slo.ca.us
(805) 788-2067
Operational Area Emergency Operations Center
Tracey Vardas
Emergency Services Coordinator
San Luis Obispo County
tvardas@co.slo.ca.us
(805) 781-1268