Ulster County Forms All-Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps

KINGSTON, NY — Ulster County is instituting an all-volunteer network to help bolster community preparedness and response to public health emergencies and disasters.

County Executive Jen Metzger announced Wednesday the launch of the Ulster County Medical Reserve Corps.

The corps will consist of both non-medically trained and medically licensed/certified volunteers to support the county’s Departments of Health and Emergency Services in protecting health, preserving life and administering aid and assistance during times of community need and disaster.

The program is now open and accepting applications from people of all backgrounds, with an emphasis on medically trained or certified members of the public.

Metzger said she was thrilled to roll out the program and encourage interested residents to consider joining.

“The Medical Reserve Corps is an exciting new initiative that will draw on the talented pool of volunteers we have right here in Ulster County to protect public health and well-being and improve our overall resilience to public health threats and natural disasters,” she said.

Additional information about the Medical Reserve Corps is available on the county’s Participate Ulster site.

The MRC is seeking a broad range of related skills and expertise in its call for volunteers, including:

• Practicing, retired, or otherwise employed medical professionals, such as doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians, pharmacists, nurses' assistants and others
• Public health professionals including behavioral health, environmental health, epidemiologists and others
• Non-medically trained community members who can provide administrative, management and other essential support functions.

Prospective members must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license or a non-driver ID to apply for membership. Upon completing the application process, members must register with the NYS Health Commerce system and ServNY, and complete the following online courses: FEMA Independent Study IS 700, IS 100a and the NYS Health Department Psychological First Aid PFA 100.

To retain membership in the unit, members must attend a minimum of four activities annually, either training or deployments. The MRC unit will conduct scheduled training exercises, typically monthly.

The county Legislature and county executive approved the corp in July. In September it was certified as a registered unit in the federal MRC program under the Office of the United States Surgeon General.