{"id":3829,"date":"2024-05-02T19:30:45","date_gmt":"2024-05-02T19:30:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/chesterfield\/?page_id=3829"},"modified":"2024-05-02T19:30:45","modified_gmt":"2024-05-02T19:30:45","slug":"medical-reserve-corps-volunteers-continue-to-be-an-asset-for-chesterfield-health-district","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/chesterfield\/news-releases\/medical-reserve-corps-volunteers-continue-to-be-an-asset-for-chesterfield-health-district\/","title":{"rendered":"Medical Reserve Corps Volunteers Continue to be an Asset for Chesterfield Health District"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"a
Cathy Harrison, CRNA, NP, at an EMS Expo with ‘Prep’ardy, a game attendees can play to test their knowledge of best practices for emergency preparedness.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

April 29, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

When disasters strike, volunteers put themselves last and respond to help wherever they\u2019re needed. At the Virginia Department of Health<\/a>, Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)<\/a> is a group of medical and non-medical community members who volunteer their skills, expertise and time to support ongoing public health initiatives and health emergencies. More<\/p>\n

The Chesterfield Health District (CHD)<\/a> currently has about 50 active volunteers in Chesterfield County, Powhatan County, and the City of Colonial Heights. Although, during the pandemic volunteer numbers reached 800.<\/p>\n

Making connections<\/strong>
\nCathy Harrison, of Moseley, has been an MRC volunteer since 2019. As a Navy veteran, Harrison feels strongly about public service. She\u2019s practiced anesthesia for the past 47 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the people,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s all about making connections and building on them.\u201d<\/p>\n

CHD MRC coordinator Sarah Gagnon feels the same way as a self-described people person.<\/p>\n

\u201cI get excited when I connect people with their passions,\u201d Gagnon said. \u201cOne of our volunteers has a son who struggles with addiction and wants to be active in opioid education. So, I make that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A
Kathleen Kramer, RN, at a school immunization event.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During the pandemic, Harrison called the CHD and said, \u201cMy offices are shut down. I\u2019m here to do whatever you need.\u201d<\/p>\n

She served as a contact tracer, answered the provider phone line, performed COVID-19 tests and vaccinated several thousand people.<\/p>\n

Volunteer Kathleen Kramer, of Midlothian, spent 35 years in nursing, mostly in labor and delivery. When she retired, the Virginia Department of Health Professions sent her a survey and one of the questions asked if she would be willing to volunteer in a health emergency. She checked the box and when COVID-19 vaccines became available in 2021, she received an email asking her for help getting shots in arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cMRC volunteers really came through during the pandemic when others were scared,\u201d Gagnon said. \u201cThey helped the county get through this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Volunteers are not just needed in a public health emergency<\/strong>
\nNow that the pandemic is over, Kramer assists by answering phones, helping patients with blood pressures, and walking them to their exam rooms. She also helps vaccinate students with state-required immunizations in schools.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love feeling helpful, that I am filling a need,\u201d Kramer said.<\/p>\n

When the CHD is not dealing with a pandemic, jobs include clerical duties, project management and community education. Medical volunteers can help in the clinic and if they complete courses, they can serve in supervisory roles in the event of an emergency.<\/p>\n

Many people would like to volunteer but are uncertain if they have what it takes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe receive adequate training and lots of support,\u201d Kramer said. \u201cIt is very rewarding to fill a need in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paying it forward<\/strong>
\nEmma Taylor, of Chesterfield, has volunteered in the MRC since 2020. Originally from Liberia, she and her family immigrated to Virginia more than two decades ago. She got her daughter, Alexzane Taylor, to join the MRC in 2022.<\/p>\n

\"Two
Emma and Alexzane Taylor, CHD MRC volunteers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cVolunteering is a big thing for my family,\u201d Emma Taylor said. \u201cWe do international missions, help with animal shelters and host exchange students.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we moved to Virginia, we didn\u2019t have a lot,\u201d Alexzane Taylor said. \u201cYou never know when you might need help, so pay it forward while you have the opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Helping those in need<\/strong>
\nEmma Taylor remembers a lady who came to a vaccination clinic who looked like she was lost. She couldn\u2019t remember which vaccinations she\u2019d had and couldn\u2019t find her records. She broke down in tears.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt broke my heart to see her like that,\u201d Emma Taylor said. \u201cI told her she didn\u2019t have to worry; we could look it up and find a solution. We were able to get her the vaccines she needed, and she was relieved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alexzane Taylor recalled helping watch over the children who were at a vaccination clinic while their parents were on the phone gathering information they needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was able to calm the kids down and get them excited about being there, despite them not being happy about getting shots,\u201d Alexzane Taylor said. \u201cI loved making sure they were ok; it was fun connecting them with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Requirements and benefits<\/strong>
\nTo volunteer in the MRC, fill out an application<\/a>, attend orientation and complete a background check at no cost to you.<\/p>\n

\"A
Sarah Gagnon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cA lot of our medical volunteers join so they can keep up with continuing education to maintain their certifications,\u201d Gagnon said.<\/p>\n

Classes include CPR training, Stop the Bleed, mental health and Revive training for opioid overdoses.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no minimum requirement for hours,\u201d Gagnon said. \u201cYou can volunteer as much or as little as your schedule allows.\u201d<\/p>\n

CHD Director Alexander Samuel, MD, MPH, understands the importance of a strong volunteer workforce.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur MRC volunteers are our force multiplier,\u201d Samuel said. \u201cWe could not have met the need for testing and vaccinations during the pandemic without our MRC volunteers. Their efforts without question saved lives and reduced hospitalizations then, and they continue to serve our community to help us protect the health and promote the well-being of all people.\u201d
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

April 29, 2024 When disasters strike, volunteers put themselves last and respond to help wherever they\u2019re needed. At the Virginia Department of Health, Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a group of medical and non-medical community members who volunteer their skills, expertise and time to support ongoing public health initiatives and health emergencies. More The Chesterfield […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":614,"featured_media":0,"parent":3813,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3829","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nMedical Reserve Corps Volunteers Continue to be an Asset for Chesterfield Health District - Chesterfield Health District<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/chesterfield\/news-releases\/medical-reserve-corps-volunteers-continue-to-be-an-asset-for-chesterfield-health-district\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Medical Reserve Corps Volunteers Continue to be an Asset for Chesterfield Health District - Chesterfield Health District\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"April 29, 2024 When disasters strike, volunteers put themselves last and respond to help wherever they\u2019re needed. 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