About the West Central Florida Medical Reserve Corps

Local emergencies have the capability to quickly overwhelm the capacity of first responders & the medical infrastructure, especially during the first 12-72 hours following an event. The attacks on September 11, 2001 underscored the need for a national network of Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) to support the health and medical needs of our Community. Having a team of volunteers who are pre-identified & credentialed; trained; & ready to respond during times of crisis allows first responders to focus their efforts on the most critical, life threatening situations. In conjunction with same, MRC Volunteers augment existing local emergency, medical & public health services during disasters and other public health activities.

Our Mission: The goal of the West Central Florida Medical Reserve Corps, coordinated by the Pasco County Health Department, is to have a volunteer team of local health and non-health care professionals who are pre-identified, organized, trained, credentialed and ready for deployment during large-scale medical and public health emergencies, population disasters, disease pandemics, acts of terrorism, and other vital public health activities.

Who can Volunteer?

Health Care Professionals – The MRC needs practicing or retired Florida licensed health care professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists / technicians; respiratory therapists; social workers, mental health counselors, health educators, epidemiologists; EMT's / paramedics; veterinarians / technicians, to name a few.

Non-HealthCare Professionals – The MRC also needs Volunteers for key support roles such as logistics, administration, greeters, educators, communications, safety, security, clinic flow direction, registration, interpreters, pet care, and chaplain services.

Benefits of Joining the West Central Florida Medical Reserve Corps

For you personally:

• Helping West Central Florida to better prepare for & respond to public health emergencies
• Getting to know your Community better
• Networking & Building References
• Earning continuing education credits
• Gaining public health experience
• Learning opportunities and skills development through training and hands-on drills / exercises
• Sense of pride and accomplishment through community service
• Being part of a dedicated public health & emergency response team
• Protection under state liability coverage & worker's compensation

For additional information, and to join the West Central Florida Medical Reserve Corps contact the MRC Coordinator at: wcfmrc@flhealth.gov. Telephone: 727-861-5250, ext.134