The True Value of Chester County’s Medical Reserve Corps

BY COUNTY COMMISSIONER MARIAN MOSKOWITZ

Last month, the Chester County Commissioners proclaimed April as National Volunteer Month, recognizing the tens of thousands of individuals and organizations that give freely of their time and talents to help others. Across Chester County government, volunteers support County departments, with an estimated savings to taxpayers of around $1 million a year. One such volunteer organization is the Chester County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). Here, Chester County Commissioners’ Chair Marian Moskowitz notes the beginnings and growth of the Chester County MRC and acknowledges the incredible contributions that its medical and non-medical members make for our community.

The events that occurred on September 11, 2001, led to many changes in the way that communities across the nation – and the world – responded to tragedies, whether natural or man-made. And the response by healthcare workers in the days that followed 9/11 led to medical and emergency response personnel flooding into New York and Washington to assist with rescue and recovery efforts. In fact, so many people poured into these cities that first responders did not know where or how to organize the volunteers. This is what catalyzed the formation of our nation’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC).

After 9/11, when it became clear that a pre-credentialed and pre-trained volunteer force was not only beneficial, but necessary to support the nation, the MRC was created, bringing together volunteers, both medical and non-medical, committed to improving the health, safety, and resiliency of their communities.

Today, the MRC network has more than 300,000 volunteers in roughly 800 community-based units throughout the United States. MRC units organize local volunteers who want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and to support ongoing preparedness initiatives. Nationally, the MRC is housed under the Readiness Division in the Office of Emergency Management and Medical Operations, and the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Chester County’s MRC Volunteers

Major local emergencies can overwhelm the capability of first responders, especially during the first 12 to 72 hours. Having citizens who are prepared to take care of themselves, their families, and others during times of crisis allow first responders to focus their efforts on the most critical, lifethreatening situations. An organized, credentialed, and trained MRC means that volunteers can effectively respond to local public health emergencies.

It should come as no surprise that Chester County recognized the great value of establishing an MRC 15 years ago. Leading up to 2008, the Chester County Health Department formally noted the increased need to augment community readiness. More funding became available from the federal government to support the creation of countylevel MRCs across the country, and Chester County took advantage of that. Since its inception, the MRC in Chester County has been supported by the Health Department’s Public Health and Emergency Preparedness team.

In the few years after becoming established, the Chester County MRC had 39 registered volunteers. Within 10 years, the membership number grew to 10 times that. And in those first 10 years, notable events and training exercises were supported by the Chester County MRC including Hurricane Sandy response, the February 2014 major ice storm, the World Meeting of Families Papal Visit, a Philadelphia Airport Crash Simulation Drill, and mass care and evacuation exercises. The efforts made by our county MRC volunteers during every one of these events and exercises were extremely valuable.

Chester County Medical Reserve Corps Eligibility

Individuals 18 years and older can register to become an MRC volunteer. Chester County’s MRC volunteers are matched with emergency roles that reflect their skills and certifications –medical doctors, nurses, dentists, mental health professionals, accountants, and professors. Some of the volunteers are retired, but many have day jobs.

Being an MRC volunteer comes with many benefits beyond the satisfaction of helping someone. Chester County provides MRC volunteers with learning opportunities and skills development, priority vaccinations and medication during emergencies, free training, networking, hands-on drills and exercises, and disaster and emergency response opportunities.

Anyone can join the MRC, and new volunteers are welcome year-round. To learn more about Chester County’s MRC, visit www.chesco.org/MRC. continued on next page >

The True Value of Chester County’s Medical Reserve Corps continued from page 13

By 2020, our MRC volunteer numbers increased tremendously, and they were, of course, ready to go, and instrumental in Chester County’s public health response to the pandemic. When COVID-19 shut down Chester County in March 2020, MRC volunteers served as call-takers in Chester County’s Public Health Call Center. They assisted at COVID-19 testing sites and vaccine clinics. They provided onsite support at the Food Bank to continue Food Bank operations for the growing number of food insecure residents. They called individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 to provide guidance in mitigating the spread of the virus. In total, MRC volunteers in Chester County spent nearly 15,000 volunteer hours over 2020 and 2021!

Chester County’s Public Health Director Jeanne Franklin lauds the efforts of our MRC members, now increased to more than 1,300 medical and non-medical volunteers. According to Jeanne, our County’s Health Department could not have reached so many people during the COVID-19 response if it was not for our MRC volunteers. I certainly agree, and I know that we could not have extended a helping hand to Delaware County during that time, were it not for our MRC volunteers.

Beyond the pandemic, MRC volunteers also engage in non-emergency services, including public awareness campaigns, first aid booths, vaccination clinics, localized disease outbreaks, recruitment events, and public health education events. In 2022, volunteers deployed to two major Health Department initiatives: the Annual Potassium Iodide (KI) Distribution Event and the 2022 Fall Vaccination Campaign (for COVID-19 and flu vaccinations).

To ensure Chester County’s MRC is empowered to respond effectively, safely, and confidently, volunteers participate in year-round trainings. Over the last year, MRC volunteers have completed Stop the Bleed, Active Threat Management, Radiological Awareness, Psychological First Aid, and Naloxone trainings, among others.

While you can’t really put a monetary value on the time, talent, and voice of Chester County’s MRC volunteers, cost savings can be approximated in the delivery of programs supported by them. Volunteer hours spent on training, exercises and deployment equate to more than $215,000 over the period between 2020 and 2022.

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