Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities 

The Sumter County Medical Reserve Corps is seeking volunteers who are committed to serving their county and willing to assist in preparing for and responding to natural or man-made disasters and public health emergencies. In addition, to be called upon to help support community outreach by participating in routine events such as the annual flu clinic, health fairs or public health outreach.

What is the Objective of the Sumter County Medical Reserve Corps?

• To develop and maintain a Medical Reserve Corps that is officially recognized by local, State and Federal agencies;
• To develop and sustain a cadre of qualified medical, medical support, and public health volunteers that can, on a temporary emergency basis when deployed by the Florida Department of Health in Sumter County, assist the County or State in a voluntary capacity during public health emergency or disaster events;
• In addition, to provide a cadre of qualified personnel willing to volunteer time to the County in non-emergency activities requiring medical knowledge or expertise such as community out reach programs;
• To develop and provide a continuing education program for Medical Reserve Corps volunteers as an incentive to maintaining membership of the Medical Reserve Corps. Training shall include, but is not limited to, continuing education classes that will for example familiarize the volunteer with emergency response plans of Sumter County.

Who is needed to volunteer?

• Medical, Public Health and Mental Health Professionals: doctors, physician's assistants, nurses, pharmacists and pharmacy techs, respiratory therapists, social workers, mental health counselors, medical technicians, psychologists, epidemiologists, Paramedics/EMT's, veterinarians, health educators, environmental health, etc.
• Volunteer Coordinators: those interested in organizing meetings and developing agendas and maintaining the Medical Reserve volunteers
• Support Staff: greeters, educators, registrars, communications, safety, patient registration, interpreters, supply management, pet care, chaplain services, general administrative, recruiters, data input, training developers

Where will I be volunteering?

• Disaster Response Venue: deployment to special needs and hurricane shelters, alternate care sites, points of dispensing for mass prophylaxis, door to door disease investigation as part of public health teams, hurricane response and disaster recovery activities, as examples.
• Health Promotion: participate in community education, community health fairs, serve on the Florida Department of Health in Sumter County's mobile medical unit assisting county staff with outreach clinics and programs, community flu clinics, public health preparedness education programs for individuals in schools, churches, and community organizations, instructing them on how, what and when to prepare for a disaster as an example.