Boston Medical Reserve Corps
The Boston Medical Reserve Corps (Boston MRC) is a community-based volunteer program that prepares for and responds to emergencies.
The Boston Medical Reserve Corps (Boston MRC) is a community-based volunteer program. Boston MRC prepares for and responds to emergencies to support the City of Boston's public health infrastructure. Members of the Boston MRC organize and train to address a wide range of challenges from disaster response to public health education. Boston MRC members from both the medical and nonmedical fields are leaders in their communities. They donate time and expertise to ensure all Bostonians, especially the most vulnerable, have access to the help they need during a public health emergency.
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About
Who volunteers for the Boston MRC?
Our members are everyday people who live, work, or go to school in the City of Boston. You do not need to have a medical background to volunteer with the Boston MRC. We are always looking for:
- Interpreters and individuals who can speak multiple languages
- People who have experience working with special needs populations
- Physicians, nurses, EMTs, and other health professionals
- Anyone with a desire to help during a public health emergency
If Boston MRC activates during a public health emergency am I forced to volunteer?
No! Although we hope you will be a part of our response efforts, you always have a choice about responding.
What other volunteer activities are there outside of emergencies?
The Boston MRC strives to strengthen Boston's public health infrastructure. Goals of the Boston MRC include:
- improving health literacy
- increasing disease prevention
- eliminating health disparities
- increasing community resilience, and
- educating Bostonians on public health preparedness.
Boston MRC members have the opportunity to help carry out these goals. They also have the opportunity to serve at a variety of non-emergency related events including:
- the Boston Marathon
- the Walk for Hunger
- seasonal flu clinics
- drills and exercises such as Urban Shield Boston, and
- community outreach days.
Are there any other benefits to joining the Boston MRC?
Yes! In partnership with the DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness, Boston MRC members have access to a great selection of free courses and seminars. Members who are also emergency medical technicians and nurses can take advantage of courses approved for continuing education hours. Nurses can receive continuing education units for taking any of the core level courses or special topics courses. For EMS providers, application has been made for two hours of MA OEMS credits for all core and special topic courses.
To find out if a course you are planning on attending is approved for continuing education, please call the DelValle Institute at 617-343-1370.
Request MRC Volunteers
If you would like to make a request for support from Boston MRC volunteers for your event, please fill out this form, and email it to volunteer@bphc.org.
Join Boston MRC
Join Boston MRCAll new members must complete the Boston MRC Online Orientation course.
You will need to create a free account on the DelValle Institute Learning Center to complete all the activities of this course and get a certificate of completion.
If you need help setting up an account on the DelValle Institute Learning Center, you can find additional instructions online.
The Boston MRC pre-registers, manages, and mobilizes our members through MA Responds. MA Responds quickly identifies members and checks their credentials so that they can mobilize in response to a public health emergency.
Go to the MA Responds website to set up your account. Select "Region 4C, Boston MRC" as the organization you wish to join.
It is very important to fill out your MA Responds profile completely. You CANNOT be deployed if any of the following is true:
- Your profile is incomplete
- Your clinical license is not verified (for clinical volunteers only)
Please note: Clinical volunteers must have an active, verified clinical license listed in their MA Responds profile for deployment in a clinical role.
Make sure that you provide your SMS/Text Message number to receive urgent communications from us. Enter your Language Skills to help us meet language access needs of our residents.
Take a look at this quick reference guide for instructions on how to complete your MA Responds profile.
All Medical Reserve Corps volunteers must complete and clear the Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check. You can fill out this form electronically without getting it notarized.
- A CORI report includes records and data compiled by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS). DCJIS is the Massachusetts agency designated to oversee the authorized release of CORIs. CORI checks are only conducted as authorized by the DCJIS. CORI certified staff in the Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management (OPEM) at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) review the reports. The Boston MRC may choose to participate with EPB staff in the review of the CORI report
- For a full explanation of the CORI policy, please visit MA Responds.
After completing the online orientation course and creating an account on MA Responds, please complete the forms below. These forms are requirements from Boston Public Health Commission.
Email the forms and a copy of your government-issued photo ID as attachments to volunteer@bphc.org with the subject line "[First name][Last name] Completed Orientation Documents."
Don't forget to attach a high resolution scanned copy (or clear photo) of your government-issued photo identification, both front and back.
You can complete the required forms and attached documentation electronically.
Once received, we will review your account as a pending MRC volunteer. This review process will include:
- Confirming you have completed the online orientation
- Confirming all required forms are correctly filled out, signed and returned
- Confirming that your CORI/SORI background check clears at the state level
After confirming all the above, you will be accepted into Boston MRC.
Courses and trainings
All Boston MRC members are able to take advantage of free course and seminar offerings from the DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness, the training branch of the Office of Public Health Preparedness. Please check the list of course offerings at the DelValle Learning Center to register. Upcoming courses will also be announced on the Boston MRC's Facebook page.
Additionally, Boston MRC members are frequently asked to assist with exercises and drills for outside agencies. These activities oftentimes require volunteers to role play as victims and can be great learning opportunities for both the agency and Boston MRC volunteers. These opportunities will be sent out via our MA Responds system, monthly newsletter, and social media.
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Questions about our work? Want to learn more?
