Guilford County Department of Public Health and Guilford County Emergency Management applied for and were granted registration of a Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) unit for Guilford County by the Office of the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in March, 2007.

A MRC is a group of medical professionals and others who volunteer their services during emergencies and can assist in the promotion of healthy living in non-emergency times. This allows for more community involvement in preparedness efforts. A MRC provides the framework for organizing these volunteers to best use their talents, skills, abilities and knowledge. During some emergencies, like pandemic flu when medical services are likely to be depleted, a MRC is an additional resource that can help fill service and personnel gaps. MRC members may:

• Support local public health goals and efforts, while advancing the priorities of the U.S. Surgeon General, such as promoting disease prevention, improving health literacy, eliminating health disparities, and enhancing public health preparedness.
• Assist local hospitals and health departments with surge personnel needs.
• Participate in mass prophylaxis and vaccination exercises and community disaster drills.
• Train with local emergency response partners.

MRC volunteers may be any of the following: medical and public health professionals, such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, veterinarians and epidemiologists. Other potential members are: interpreters, chaplains, office workers and legal advisors.

Persons interested in learning more about the Medical Reserve Corps can visit https://aspr.hhs.gov/MRC/Pages/index.aspx.

Persons who would like to volunteer for the Triad MRC unit may contact Alyson Best with Guilford County Department of Public Health at 336-641-4728.