The Mission of The Rhode Island Medical Reserve Corps is to draw medical professionals into volunteer service, and train them to respond to the needs of the Rhode Island community, thus enhancing local emergency response efforts. The Rhode Island Medical Reserve Corps will provide reserve medical professionals at the local level to respond to local and state health needs.

Description:
The Rhode Island medical Reserve Corps (RIMRC) initiative is built on the concept that communities can help themselves by organizing volunteer resources within their community. Rhode Island's needs have their own unique character and those of us who live here have the greatest incentive to make use of our local resources. You, as a healthcare provider, are being offered the opportunity to volunteer your time and skills within a planned, organized and coordinated local medical reserve corps. By doing so you will be able to assist regular medical emergency response professionals and facilities during a small and large scale local emergency. RIMRC volunteers can also serve a vital role by assisting their communities with on-going public health needs. (e.g. Immunization programs, health and nutrition education.)

History:
The Rhode Island Medical Reserve Corps is an organization being developed by the Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team (RI-1 DMAT). RI-1 DMAT is one of only twenty-seven Level 1 DMAT's in the country; is a Rhode Island based 501c 3 tax exempt corporation; and is sponsored by Rhode Island Hospital. As a volunteer-based organization in the nations smallest state, RI-1 DMAT offers a strong foundation for the stewardship of a medical reserve corps for Rhode Island. RI-1 DMAT is a team that consists of over two-hundred medical professionals and support personnel who are ready to deploy to disasters throughout the United States and its' territories with only six to twelve hours notice. The team is equipped to be self-sufficient with food and water, shelter and medical supplies for up to seventy-two hours without re-supply. Recent deployments include emergency response efforts for EgyptAir Flight 990; flooding of Houston, Texas Hospitals; the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center; the anthrax incidents in NYC; the Winter Olympics in Utah; the outbreak of Avian Influenza in Virginia; and most recently the aftermath of Typhoon Chaantal on the Island of Chuuk in the Western Pacific. The Rhode Island Medical Corps will be a group of medical volunteers, separate and distinct from the membership of RI-1 DMAT, who will be avaliable to their communities in the event of medical need. RIMRC volunteers will not go through the process of becoming a member of DMAT, but will benefit from the organizational aspect of the team to identify, recruit, verify credentials and use the resources of the team to train corps members for a disaster response when the need arises.

Contact people:

Erin McDonough, (401) 615-9151, (email) Tom Lawrence, Director, 401-444-3806, (email)

Address:

599 Arnold Road Coventry, RI 02816 (See a map)

Directions:

From Providence: 95 South to Exit 7, Take right off exit follow to stop sign take left on Arnold Road. 599 Arnold Road/Unit C, Coventry, RI 02816.

Miscellaneous Information

Handicap accessible?
	Yes
Interests Served:
	Helping People in Crisis
Does your agency accept court-appointed volunteers?
	No