Horn Memorial Hospital Begins Implementation of the Ida County Medical Reserve Corp

February 9, 2011

Horn Memorial Hospital has been gearing up to begin implementation of the newly formed Ida County Medical Reserve Corp (MRC). The Ida County MRC is a volunteer unit that works to enhance local response to disasters or emergency events. Horn Memorial Hospital recently received a $5,000 grant from the Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps and the National Association of County and City Health Officials to help with costs of the MRC.

The Ida County MRC's mission is to prepare volunteers who can help improve community emergency preparedness and assist during times of major healthcare needs. Patti Andrews, MRC Unit Coordinator commented, "Many volunteers helped during the 2009-2010 H1N1 Vaccination clinics. As an outcome of the response to H1N1, it was decided a more formal volunteer team was needed. The formation of the Ida County MRC is our way of being proactive in preparing our volunteers and community for future emergency needs."

By organizing and training volunteers in advance, the Ida County MRC will be able to provide a response team that can be readily mobilized when the existing health infrastructure is overwhelmed. "As our first order of business, we are contacting community volunteers who have helped with disaster responses in the past and asking them to participate in the formal training of the MRC. After we have a better idea of the number of responses we get from our initial training, we will seek more community volunteers." comments Andrews. The Ida County MRC hopes to have 20 trained volunteers by the end of 2011.