ETC
health journal
County’s Medical Reserve Corps in need of volunteers to help during crisis BY BILL THOMPSON
I
n mid-April a handful of folks gathered at the Ocala office of the Florida Department of Health in Marion County. They were there to hear a presentation about how to open and operate a special-needs shelter as a hurricane approaches. Not exactly the sexiest topic in the world, with talk of the “incident command structure,” how “shelterees” are designated by wristband colors and understanding that government specialty of which forms must be completed when. Still, it was important to them. For one thing, forecasters have recently predicted a busier-than-usual storm season in the Atlantic Ocean, meaning more potential opportunities to open such refuges from Mother Nature. But the attendees were volunteers with the Medical Reserve Corps, or MRC, a little known but important component of the county Health Department that augments the agency’s mission in times of crisis, such as a hurricane or a pandemic. This month, DOH-Marion staff are marking the 16th anniversary of the MRC’s service to Marion County — and seeking to recruit more civic-minded volunteers who can help fill gaps the agency’s own personnel cannot cover. Lana Spirko serves as coordinator for
70
| MAY 2022 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM
the MRC, a job she took over last September after joining the department in March 2021. Prior to that, however, she was an MRC volunteer for 10 years. “I’ve enjoyed volunteering over the years and when the opening became available it seemed like an extension of that,” she explained. “I believe in the MRC program and I’m excited to see it continue.” Currently, she manages 75 volunteers, about 85 percent which come from the medical or health care sectors. They come from all over Marion County, and even include some snowbirds who participate when they are here. Spirko said they enlist in the MRC because of a sense of community and a drive to help others in times of need. But growing the ranks during the pandemic has been a challenge. Spirko said she’s added just one new member since September. She’s hopeful that as the pandemic transitions to become more endemic, more people will step up. “Responding to a crisis is very demanding, both physically and emotionally. More volunteers give us the ability to use our resources without burnout,” said Spirko. “I think if we could double our numbers in the upcoming year we would be in a good position. It’s not just about planning for current
needs but future needs as well.” The MRC was born out of tragedy. Following the 9/11 attacks, president George W. Bush called upon Americans “to the service of your neighbors and nation” and encouraged people to volunteer the equivalent of two working years. Part of the volunteerism would meet the critical need of medically-skilled first responders in largescale disasters. “America,” said Bush, “needs retired doctors and nurses who can be mobilized in major emergencies.” Accordingly, the MRC began as a pilot project in which 42 local units were started with volunteers from medicine, public health and other community-oriented pursuits. In December 2006, Congress passed the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act, which required the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to create what formally became known as the MRC. Its purpose was to provide an “adequate supply” of volunteers to help with a public health emergency at any level. Since then, thousands of MRC volunteers have assisted with tens of thousands of hours of service during calamities such as the H1N1 flu outbreak, Hurricanes Sandy, Irma, Harvey and Maria, the Ebola scare, and California’s wildfires.
