As the events of September 11th, Hurricane Katrina and recent international earthquake activity indicate, there is a pressing need to recruit, pre-register and pre-credential health professionals, particularly health care professionals. Formerly known as LA County ESAR-VHP, the LA County Disaster Healthcare Volunteers (DHV) is a collaborative effort lead by the County of Los Angeles Departments of Health Services, Emergency Medical Services Agency and Public Health to eliminate the following problems: identification of medical, health and mental health professionals and other volunteers at disaster sites; validation of practice and license; proper credentialing and training. In addition to the LA County Surge Unit, there are three Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units within our program, including MRC Los Angeles, Beach Cities Health District MRC and Long Beach MRC. Volunteers are given a choice of units when they register. LA County DHV is part of a federally mandated statewide and nationwide effort to recruit and register healthcare volunteers in advance of the next disaster.
Long Beach MRC
The Long Beach MRC serves the City of Long Beach and its approximately 500,000 residents by working directly with the Public Health Emergency Management Program at the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services. Our MRC is dedicated to the recruitment of physicians, nurses, other allied healthcare providers and disaster service volunteers. The Long Beach MRC will aid the Public Health Department in providing mass prophylaxis at medication dispensing sites, triage and medical care at alternate triage sites, hospitals and at the health department. The MRC will provide the public with education about disaster preparedness and response and also participate in citywide disaster exercises.