185140 Florida Medical Reserve Corps Network—interconnecting volunteer manpower with resources and support

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Sandra Schoenfisch, PhD, RN , Office of Public Health Nursing, Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, FL
The purpose of the presentation is to provide an effective model for mobilizing assets of qualified, prepared volunteers during an event. The Florida model includes information, tools and samples of resources for enhancing recruitment, program development, and engaging volunteers. The roles of the state and local Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) programs will be explained.

The Florida MRC Network is the statewide system of recruiting, training and retaining private health volunteers who augment public health and disaster response. Currently, 27 MRCs cover 51 of 67 Florida counties. The progress of developing MRC manpower is monitored through quarterly statistical reviews as part of the Florida Surgeon General's Performance Review. Since 2004-05, the number of MRCs sites expanded from 13 to 27 and volunteers increased from 1,883 to 3,688 (first quarter of 2008).

The Florida Network was formed for sharing resources on proven practices, building resource models, developing leaders, forming partnerships, focusing on strategic priorities, establishing minimum standards, and preparing volunteers so that each local MRC can effectively support the total statewide all-hazard response. The Network facilitates sovereign immunity, workers' compensation, as well as training.

MRC volunteer record management is centralized through the Florida Emergency Health Volunteer Registry (Florida's ESAR-VHP). It was designed by and for local MRC coordinators. The Registry provides local control, on-demand license verification, training and credential management, and facilitates recruitment during re-licensure in partnership with the state licensing boards. The Registry is at www.servfl.com. To learn more about Florida MRC Network, go to http://www.doh.state.fl.us/PHNursing/MRC/MRC_Main.html.

Learning Objectives:
1. Gain knowledge on implementation strategies, based on Florida’s model, for creating a statewide network that supports local MRC sites. 2. Apply sample resources, best practices and lessons learned from the Florida Medical Reserve Corps Network for building other state-level programs. 3. Construct assessment processes used to identify gaps in resources for local MRC site development.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Currently, I am the Nursing Services Director in the Florida Department of Health Office of Public Health Nursing and was previously the Assistant Director of the Florida Department of Health Office of Performance Improvement. I was also the Training Coordinator and am responsible for development and annual updating of the Agency Workforce Development Plan. My responsibilities include oversight of the nursing practice programs, disaster preparedness programs, a five million dollar budget of federal and state funding. In my previous position, my responsibilities included oversight of the infrastructure that assures workforce development to support and promote progress toward the department’s mission and achievement of specific long range and short-range goals. Major areas of focus include mandatory training, core training, continuing education for health professionals and management of the Department’s statewide distance learning network which is made up of 90 down link sites. I have a diverse background including experience as a clinician, educator and administrator. I have been with the Department of Health since 1983 and taught at the undergraduate and graduate level prior to 1983. I am experienced in program planning, implementation and evaluation. In my previous position, I developed multi-media and multi-modal training programs and materials for the agency’s 16,000-member workforce. I am a member of the American Public Health Association, Florida Public Health Association, American Nurses Association, Who’s Who in American Women, and Women in Government. I have had numerous professional publications and has successfully written public health grants for HIV/AIDS, diabetes and cancer funding. She has been a consultant at both the state national level for many health and education related projects, programs and councils. I received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the American University, a Master of Science from the University of Maryland School of Nursing and completed a Ph.D. in education at Florida State University.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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