What is MRC?
MRC stands for Medical Reserve Corps. It is a partnership between North Dakota Health and Human Services (NDHHS) and volunteers throughout the state of North Dakota. The MRC program is sponsored by the NDHHS Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Unit. It enhances the ability of North Dakota’s health and medical system to respond in a public health emergency.
What is the purpose of MRC?
MRC’s mission is to provide medical and non-medical personnel to assist in a public health emergency. The purpose of the MRC program is to recruit volunteers (medical and non-medical) and train them before an event occurs to thus save time in the response phase of a public health emergency.
A database of MRC volunteers is maintained by the NDHHS EPR Unit. It should help minimize the number of spontaneous volunteers and maximize the response capacity in the event of an emergency.
Why is MRC necessary?
Every disaster has a public health component. A public health emergency could range from a flood to an influenza epidemic. Having a pool (database) of identified and pre-screened volunteers will aid in the response time, enabling officials to help the community recover from a disaster quicker.
Who can volunteer?
For safety reasons, all MRC volunteers must be at least 18 years old and live, work, or go to school in North Dakota or a neighboring state. Individuals deployed as MRC volunteers will be covered under ND Worker’s Compensation Insurance if injured while assisting as a MRC volunteer in an emergency situation.
What volunteer roles are available for individuals with medical backgrounds?
A variety of medical positions would need to be filled in the event of a public health emergency (examples mass medical care, pandemic response, mass vaccination, surge staffing during a pandemic).
These might include:
- Nurse LPN, RN, APRN, NP
- CNA, Medical Assistant
- Phlebotomist
- Pharmacist
- Medical Doctor
- Dentist/Dental Assistant
- EMT/EMR/Paramedic
- Social Worker
- Veterinarian
What volunteer roles are available for individuals with non-medical backgrounds?
Volunteers that perform non-medical tasks are just as critical as medical personnel. Some of the roles for non-medical staff may include:
- Administrative (Data Entry)
- Security/Safety
- Logistics/Supplies
- Interpreter
- Communication Support
- Technology Support
- Driver (CDL)
- General Volunteer Assistance
- Clergy
How will I be contacted to provide emergency health care services?
In the event of an emergency requiring MRC volunteer assistance, you will be contacted through our Health Alert Network (HAN) through email, phone messages, and text messages.
I would like to volunteer, but does that mean I have to volunteer everywhere within the state of North Dakota?
Volunteers from local areas impacted by an exercise or emergency are contacted first. If enough volunteers are not available to fill a local need, then volunteers from surrounding areas may be asked. Please remember that all deployment is voluntary, meaning you are not required to respond.
How will I know what to do if I am contacted to volunteer?
The HAN message will be the first method of communication. The first HAN message will let you know that a request is being made for volunteers. The message will instruct you to go to a website to indicate that you are available to volunteer for this event. A second HAN alert message will inform you that your offer to assist has been accepted and you will be directed to the website to receive your assignment and other important information. A volunteer is not deployed unless both HAN messages are received.
What is expected of MRC volunteers?
At a minimum, MRC volunteers must update their contact information and volunteer profiles when information is no longer current, or at least once a year. Even if the information hasn’t changed within that time-period, volunteers are asked to review their application at least annually, so the MRC Coordinator knows that the information is up to date and the volunteer is still available. MRC volunteers are required to fulfill the training requirement by watching a brief orientation video, which can be viewed by following this link: MRC Orientation Video
Volunteers are also expected to participate in drills with the NDHHS EPR Unit. Periodically, the MRC Coordinator will conduct a drill to contact volunteers using the established process. These drills will help work out any problems in advance of an actual emergency. Volunteers will be contacted by telephone or email and instructed how to respond. It’s very important that all volunteers who are contacted for these drills respond in the established way, in a timely manner, so that the MRC Coordinator can verify what works well and what part of the process might need minor adjustments.
What protection does being a part of MRC have?
Once you are an activated MRC volunteer and are activated to serve as designated agents of NDHHS during a public health emergency, you are covered by worker’s compensation and state tort laws that cover liability.
What type of information do I need to provide as an emergency volunteer to register with this system?
The MRC system will include volunteer contact information, licensure (when applicable), certifications, degree, and skills.
What kind of training can I expect?
MRC volunteers will receive “Just in Time” training at the site where they are directed to report. MRC volunteers have the option of participating in local, regional or state trainings.
How do I register for MRC?
You can register online to become an MRC volunteer by following this link:
How do I contact someone for more information?
For more information contact Duane Ell at 701-328-8646 or by email at dbell@nd.gov.