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>>> IF I WERE TO ASK YOU TO DESCRIBE THE MEDICAL RESERVE
CORPS, COULD YOU DO IT? WOULD YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS?
HOW IT GOT ITS START? STAY TUNED FOR HEALTHWATCH.
YOU'LL LEARN THAT AND MUCH MORE. HELLO.
I'M TERRANCE AFER-ANDERSON AND THIS IS HEALTHWATCH.
NACCHO, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY AND CITY HEALTH
OFFICIALS RECORDS THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS MADE BY AN OFFICIAL AT
THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SHORTLY AFTER THE
EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001. IT MADE YOU FEEL LIKE SOMETHING
GOOD WAS GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS.
WHOEVER ATTACKED THE TOWERS HAD FAILED, IF THEIR PURPOSE WAS TO
TERRORIZE US. WHAT IT DID WAS GALVANIZE US.
WHEN THE TWIN TOWERS FELL IN NEW YORK AND THE MAGNIFICENT SKYLINE
WAS CHANGED FOREVER, A HOST OF PHYSICIANS AND A VAST ARRAY OF
OTHER PROFESSIONALS AND CONCERNED AMERICANS VOLUNTEERED
THEIR SERVICES FOR OURS FOR DAYS, FOR WEEKS.
THERE'S SOMETHING QUITE REMARKABLE ABOUT SEEING THE
AMERICAN SPIRIT COALESCE THE UNIFIED FORCE, A UNION IN THE
FACE OF ADVERSITY AND FOLLOWING 9/11, THE SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM
BECAME THE HEARTBEAT, THE PULSE OF THE NATION.
TODAY ON HEALTHWATCH, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT A MOST
NOTEWORTHY EXAMPLE OF THAT VOLUNTEERISM, THE MEDICAL
RESERVE CORPS. MY GUESTS TODAY ARE LINDA BOTTS,
THE COORDINATOR OF THE RESERVE CORPS.
AND TWO OF HER VOLUNTEERS, TAVIA PETWAY AND SEAN HESS.
WELCOME TO HEALTHWATCH, LADIES. >> THANK YOU.
>> WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO START OUT WITH SOME PERSONAL INSIGHT ABOUT
VOLUNTEERISM AND WHY YOU DO IT, AND PARTICULARLY WITH THE
MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS. I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN WITH YOU,
LINDA. YOU WERE IN CHARGE F THE MEDICAL
RESERVE CORPS UNIT IN WISCONSIN. >> UH-HUH.
>> WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THE NORFOLK MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS THAT
BROUGHT YOU HERE? >> THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK MORE
IN PUBLIC HEALTH. MY UNIT IN WISCONSIN WAS BASED
OUT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. WISCONSIN IS A LITTLE BIT OF A
DIFFERENT SYSTEM. VIRGINIA'S SYSTEM IS REALLY
SOLIDLY BASED IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK
WITHIN PUBLIC HEALTH WITH PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSION ALS WAS REALLY
EXCITING TO ME. >> AND WHAT ABOUT YOU, TAVIA.
WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THE MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS THAT MADE YOU SAY
I'VE GOT TO VOLUNTEER. >> I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF
CHANGING MY MAJOR AT SCHOOL. I CURRENTLY WAS PRELAW AND I WAS
THINKING ABOUT GOING PREMED. MAINLY BECAUSE I HAD BEEN
DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING MY MOTHER.
SHE'S BEEN AN RN FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.
AND I WANTED TO FIND A FULFILLMENT WITHIN THE HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM AS SHE DOES. SO SHE ADVISED BEFORE I MADE
THAT CHANGE, TRY VOLUNTEERING. TRY SEEING, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S
WHERE YOUR HEART IS TO GO WITH IT.
SO I HOOKED UP WITH LINDA. AND ABOUT THREE MONTHS IN, I WAS
SOLD. FROM THE EXPERIENCES TO THE
EXERCISES TO THE PEOPLE I MET, IT WAS A COMPLETE PACKAGE.
>> SO YOU FOUND YOUR HEART NOT JUST IN MEDICINE ALONE, BUT IN
VOLUNTEERING WITH MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS.
>> VOLUNTEERING. >> WHAT OTHER KINDS OF THINGS
HAVE YOU DONE? >> I DO BELONG TO A FRATERNAL
ORGANIZATION THAT IS VERY CHARITABLE DRIVEN.
WE'VE DONE THINGS WITH THE SICKLE CELL, BREAST CARE
AWARENESS. WE'VE DONE SOME THINGS
CONCERNING FOOD AND CLOTHING DONATIONS TO SHELTERS, AND WE'VE
ALSO DONE SOME CHILDREN MENTORING.
>> AND, SEAN, WHAT ABOUT YOU? WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO GO TO THE
MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS. >> WE HAD RECENTLY RELOCATED TO
NORFOLK. >> WHERE DID YOU TELL ME YOU
WERE FROM? I FORGOT.
>> RHODE ISLAND. >> PARDON ME FOR INTERRUPTING.
>> NO. SMALLEST STATE IN THE UNION.
I HAD BEEN -- I HAD VOLUNTEERED WITH A MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS IN
RHODE ISLAND. AND THEN SHORTLY AFTER WE MOVED
HERE, I WAS IN SEARCH OF SOMETHING TO DO.
AND I FOUND THAT IT REALLY HELPS YOU BECOME PART OF THE NEW
COMMUNITY THAT YOU'RE IN. >> OKAY.
WELL, LET ME ASK THE TWO OF YOU A QUESTION.
WE'LL COME RIGHT BACK TO YOU, LINDA.
BUT I DO WANT TO ASK THE BOTH OF YOU A QUESTION.
HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS, HAVE YOU
FOUND IT DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE THAT
YOU'VE DONE? >> I WOULD SAY WITH MRC IT'S
DEFINITELY -- IT WAS MORE PUBLIC HEALTH DRIVEN.
THE VOLUNTEERING THAT I'VE DONE WITH THE FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION
THAT I BELONG TO HADN'T EVEN TOUCHED THE SURFACE YET COMPARED
TO WHAT MRC WAS OUT THERE DOING FOR THE COMMUNITY.
>> YOURSELF, SEAN, DID YOU NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE AT ALL?
>> WELL, I THINK -- I WAS AT THE END OF MY CAREER ANYWAY, WHICH
PUT ME MOST IN ADMINISTRATION. AND THIS ALLOWED ME TO GET BACK
TO WHY I BECAME A NURSE AND ACTUALLY INTERACT WITH PEOPLE ON
A REGULAR BASIS, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT I BECAME A NURSE TO DO.
BUT IT ALSO ALLOWED ME TO MEET PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY AND TO BE
OF SERVICE. >> OKAY.
LINDA, I KIND OF ALLUDED TO THIS EARLIER IN TERMS OF THE ORIGINS
OF THE MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT A
LITTLE BIT? >> WELL, THE MEDICAL RESERVE
CORPS WAS FOUNDED AFTER 9/11. IT WAS ACTUALLY FOUNDED BY A
GROUP OF PHYSICIANS IN NEW YORK WHO COULD SEE THAT THERE WAS
SORT OF A VOLUNTEER CRISIS GOING ON ON THE GROUND.
LOTS OF PEOPLE SAW THOSE IMAGES ON TV AND LOTS OF PEOPLE CAME TO
NEW YORK TO HELP. AND IT'S REALLY, REALLY
CHALLENGING TO MANAGE VOLUNTEERS TO UTILIZE VOLUNTEERS.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEIR SKILL SETS ARE.
>> UH-HUH. >> WITHIN THE MRC, THAT'S PART
OF WHAT WE DO WITH YOU AS A VOLUNTEER IS WE VERIFY YOUR
CREDENTIALS AND WE GET TO KNOW WHAT YOUR SKILL SETS ARE SO THAT
WE CAN APPROPRIATELY USE YOUR SKILLS AS NEEDED FOR ROUTINE
PUBLIC HEALTH FUNCTIONS AND FOR EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS.
SO SINCE THAT TIME, THE NATIONAL MRC HAS GROWN FROM A SMALL GROUP
OF PHYSICIANS IN NEW YORK CITY TO OVER 900 UNITS ACROSS THE
UNITED STATES. OVER 205,000 VOLUNTEERS.
>> WOW. >> AND RIGHT NOW THE MRC COVERS
ABOUT 90% OF THE COUNTRY. >> THAT'S AMAZING.
AND YOU HAVE THESE TWO BEAUTIFUL LADIES HERE THAT VOLUNTEER FOR
YOU, TAVIA AND SEAN. WHAT ELSE CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT
THE BACKGROUND THAT YOUR VOLUNTEERS TEND TO COME FROM?
YOU MENTIONED PHYSICIAN, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF LAY PEOPLE AS
WELL. >> WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE FROM
LOTS OF WALKS OF LIFE. WE HAVE A FEW RETIREES IN OUR
UNIT. SO SEAN AND A HANDFUL OF OTHER
PEOPLE THAT I HAVE ARE A BLESSING.
BECAUSE YOU TEND TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME.
NONETHELESS, WE HAVE LOTS OF STUDENTS IN OUR UNIT.
WE HAVE LOTS OF MILITARY IN OUR UNIT.
AND WE HAVE A TON OF WORKING PROFESSIONALS IN OUR UNIT.
AND WHEN I SAY WORKING PROFESSIONALS, I MEAN HEALTH
CARE PROFESSIONALS AND NON-MEDICAL SUPPORT
PROFESSIONALS, SUCH AS TAVIA. PEOPLE DON'T OFTEN REALIZE THAT
PUBLIC HEALTH HAS A LOT OF FUNCTIONS TO IT, AND IT'S NOT
ALL HANDS ON NURSING. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT
HAPPEN THAT REQUIRE ADMINISTRATIVE, LOGISTICS,
COMMUNICATION. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> AND A NUMBER OF OTHER DIFFERENT SUPPORT FUNCTIONS TO
MAKE THAT NURSING OR THAT CLINICAL PIECE HAPPEN.
>> SO HOW DOES SOMEONE BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE MEDICAL
RESERVE CORPS? WHAT IS THE PROCESS?
>> MOST PEOPLE FIND US THROUGH A COUPLE DIFFERENT CHANNELS.
ONLINE OR THEY CALL ME OR CALL THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND WHAT I HAVE THEM DO IS FILL OUT A VOLUNTEER APPLICATION.
THAT'S DONE ONLINE. IT TAKES ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO
FILL OUT THE APPLICATION. AND WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING
WHEN THEY'RE COMPLETING THAT APPLICATION IS CREATING A
VOLUNTEER PROFILE. AND THAT BECOMES A PROFILE THAT
I PUT THEIR HOURS INTO, SO THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION
IF THEY NEED HOURS FOR RESUMES OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
ONCE THEY COMPLETE THAT APPLICATION, IT COMES TO ME AND
THEN I SET THEM UP FOR ORIENTATION AND THEY TAKE THEIR
ORIENTATION. AND THEN FROM THAT POINT, ONCE
WE GET THEIR BACKGROUND CHECK BACK, THEY CAN BEGIN
VOLUNTEERING. THERE'S SOME TRAINING THAT THEY
NEED TO COMPLETE. AND WE HAVE THEM WORK ON THAT
TRAINING WHILE THEY'RE VOLUNTEERING.
BUT THEY CAN GET HANDS ON PRETTY QUICKLY.
>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT TRAINING IN JUST A MOMENT.
BUT YOU MENTIONED THE PROFILE. >> UH-HUH.
>> THAT PROFILE HELPS YOU KIND OF ALIGN THEIR BACKGROUND WITH
WHAT MIGHT INTEREST THEM, DOES IT NOT?
>> YA. THE PROFILE ASKS SOME QUESTIONS
ABOUT VOLUNTEER INTERESTS. TRUTHFULLY FOR ME PERSONALLY, I
JUST REALLY LIKE TO GET TO KNOW VOLUNTEERS.
>> SURE, SURE. >> I KNOW THAT WHEN I PUT OUT
CERTAIN TYPES OF REQUESTS, I ALMOST KNOW WHO IS GOING TO SIGN
UP FOR IT. JUST BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT CERTAIN
PEOPLE LIKE TO DO. OBVIOUSLY IT'S A LITTLE MORE
CHALLENGING IF YOU'RE A NEW VOLUNTEER AND I HAVEN'T GOTTEN
TO KNOW YOU WELL YET. BUT I WILL.
>> UH-HUH. >> AND SO IT GIVES ME THE -- THE
PROFILE ITSELF GIVES ME A GENERAL IDEA OF WHAT YOU LIKE TO
DO. BUT IT HELPS ME TO ALIGN YOUR
SKILLS. I HAVE TO DO A CREDENTIAL CHECK
OFF OF THAT. >> I KNOW YOU GUYS DO A GREAT
ARRAY OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS. AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF
THOSE IN A MINUTE. A COUPLE IN PARTICULAR.
BUT MOST RECENTLY I KNOW YOU WERE INVOLVED WITH THE HUGE
NORFOLK PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT.
>> UH-HUH. >> WHAT IS HOMELESS CONNECT AND
HOW WAS THE MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS INVOLVED?
>> HOMELESS CONNECT IS ACTUALLY RUN THROUGH THE CITY OFFICE AND
HOMELESSNESS, AND IT IS A HUGE SERVICE EVENT THAT PROVIDES
CRITICAL SERVICES TO THE HOMELESS.
>> UH-HUH. >> THE NORFOLK MRC IS IN CHARGE
OF THE MEDICAL SECTION. SO WE ARE THERE WORKING WITH
OTHER VENDORS WHO PROVIDE HEALTH SERVICES
>> SO YOU RAN THE ENTIRE MEDICAL SECTION?
>> YES. >> OKAY.
>> AND THEN THERE'S OTHER SERVICES OFFERED.
I Ds, HAIRCUTS, HOUSING OBVIOUSLY, A NUMBER OF OTHER
THINGS. BUT WE'RE IN CHARGE OF THE
MEDICAL SECTION. AND SO WE PROVIDE SOME BASIC
MEDICAL SCREENINGS. AND AS I MENTIONED, THERE'S ALSO
OTHER VENDORS THAT PROVIDING OTHER HEALTH SERVICES AS WELL
THAT WE ALL COORDINATE TOGETHER TO PUT OUT FOR THAT EVENT.
>> AND I KNOW THE BOTH OF YOU WORKED THE HOMELESS CONNECT.
TAVIA, WHAT DID YOU DO? HOW DID YOU HELP OUT?
>> I WAS A PATIENT ADVOCATE. I PRETTY MUCH WAS AVAILABLE TO
PROVIDE ANY ANSWERS TO ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE
SERVICES THAT WE HAD THERE THAT DAY.
>> AND, SEAN, HOW DID YOU HELP OUT AT HOMELESS CONNECT?
WHAT DID DO YOU? >> I DID THE BLOOD PRESSURE
SCREENINGS, WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO MOVE ON TO OTHER HEALTH CARE
THAT WAS AVAILABLE THERE. >> I WOULD ASK THIS FOR ALL OF
YOU. I KNOW FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE AS
A VOLUNTEER IN THE PAST THAT FREQUENTLY WHEN YOU VOLUNTEER,
YOU FIND IT A PERSONALLY ENRICHING EXPERIENCE.
DID YOU GAIN ANY INSIGHT, PERSONAL INSIGHT, WITH WORKING
WITH HOMELESS CONNECT. LET'S START WITH YOU, SEAN.
>> WELL, I KNOW PERSONALLY FOR MYSELF THAT DAY I, TOO, LIKE
MANY PEOPLE HAD A VIEW OF WHAT A HOMELESS PERSON LOOKED LIKE.
>> UH-HUH. >> UNTIL I CAME IN CONTACT WITH
A 19-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO WASN'T FROM VIRGINIA BUT WAS HOMELESS.
AND WE MANAGED -- WE WERE ABLE TO SET HER UP WITH A FEW OF THE
SERVICES THAT WERE AVAILABLE THAT DAY.
>> I THINK I TALKED WITH HER. OF COURSE I WAS THERE FOR THE
HEALTH DEPARTMENT. I THINK I MAY HAVE TALKED WITH
THAT WOMAN. >> YA.
>> SEAN -- I MEAN, TAVIA, HOW ABOUT YOU?
ANYTHING THAT YOU FOUND PARTICULARLY.
>> PROBABLY I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE WITH SEAN.
JUST A WHOLE DIFFERENT INSIGHT ON THE DIFFERENT TYPE OF, YOU
KNOW, HOMELESS SITUATIONS AND THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT WE CAME
IN CONTACT THERE. WE HAD A LOT OF PERSONAL
CONVERSATIONS. IT COULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING AS
SIMPLE AS WHAT SERVICES WE WERE OFFERING OR WHERE MIGHT I GET
HELP AFTER THE HOMELESS CONNECT TODAY IF I WANTED TO, YOU KNOW,
LOOK FOR, YOU KNOW, HELP WITH EYE CARE OR VISION OR ANYTHING
LIKE THAT. >> OKAY.
>> GO AHEAD, LINDA. >> SURE.
ABSOLUTELY. >> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I
REALLY TRY AND LET VOLUNTEERS KNOW.
WHEN YOU VOLUNTEER FOR THE MRC, NOT ONLY ARE YOU JOINING A BODY
OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE A SHARED SET OF INTEREST IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND
IN SERVING THEIR COMMUNITY. >> UH-HUH.
>> BUT YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY GET OUT AND KNOW YOUR
COMMUNITY AND TO MEET DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
TO NETWORK WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
TO WORK WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK VERY HARD DOING
IMPORTANT WORK. BUT REALLY OUR FOCUS ON A
PARTICULAR AUDIENCE. AND IF YOU'RE NOT WORKING WITH
THEM. >> RIGHT.
>> IN SERVING THAT NEED, YOU MAY NEVER EVEN KNOW THAT THEY
EXIST. SO IT'S REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO
GET TO KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY MUCH, MUCH BETTER AND KNOW WHAT'S
GOING ON AND WHAT THE ISSUES ARE.
>> AND THAT EVENT HAD ANTICIPATION FROM MRC UNITS
THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. >> YES.
>> WHAT OTHER KIND OF MRC UNITS WERE THERE, WHAT OTHER MRC UNITS
WERE THERE? AND I KNOW YOU GUYS COORDINATED
THE EVENT. BUT WHAT OTHER MRC UNITS WERE
THERE? >> WE INVITED IN UNITS FROM
ACROSS HAMPTON ROADS. FOR A COUPLE DIFFERENT REASONS.
WE USED IT AS AN EXERCISE TO WORK ON SOME OF OUR DISASTER
PLANS. >> UH-HUH.
>> AND WE ALSO REALLY APPRECIATED HAVING SOME OF THEIR
VOLUNTEERS COME IN AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER.
I HEARD FROM A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS THAT THEY ENJOYED THAT.
AND JUST THE EXTRA STAFFING. IT WAS A BIG EVENT.
SO WE HAD OUR PARTNERS FROM THE VIRGINIA BEACH MRC, CHESAPEAKE
MRC, WESTERN TIDE WATER WHICH ENCOMPASSES MID FIELD AND
FRANKLIN AND THOSE PARTS OUT THERE, PORTSMITH MRC AND
PENINSULA MRC. >> NOW, THEY HELPED ME WITH AN
EVENT. YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE
ILLUMINATING GOOD HEALTH COALITION AND WE'VE DONE A
COUPLE OF EVENTS NOW. AND THE MRC HAS BEEN THERE ON
EACH OCCASION. HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH
THE MOST RECENT ONE WAS ILLUMINATING GENERATIONS
MINORITY HEALTH. HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED AND
WHAT DID YOU GUYS DO? >> WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR
OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY GO OUT AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, PUBLIC HEALTH DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL WITHIN THE PUBLIC
HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THERE'S LOTS OF GREAT AGENCIES
OUT THERE WORKING ON PIECES OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PARTNER AND REALLY GET OUT
THERE AND HELP FILL NEEDS. SO WHEN I HEARD OF THE COALITION
THAT WAS BEHIND THAT, IT WAS SOMETHING WE DEFINITELY WANTED
TO BE PART OF. AND IT'S SOMETHING I THINK OUR
VOLUNTEERS REALLY ENJOYED TOO. THE OPPORTUNITY, AGAIN, TO SERVE
A DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC AND HAVE IT MORE AS -- IT WASN'T ENTIRELY
AN IN HOUSE EVENT. BUT SOMETHING THAT WAS HELD
VERY, VERY LOCALLY AND, YOU KNOW, AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US
TO PROVIDE DIFFERENT SERVICES THAN WE DO AT HOMELESS CONNECT
AND SOME OF THE OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS.
>> WE MENTIONED PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT AND THE ILLUMINATING
GOOD HEALTH COALITION. WHAT OTHER PROJECTS WITH THE
MRC? >> WE DO A LOT, A LOT OF THINGS
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. >> I KNOW.
>> WE DO A TON OF COMMUNITY HEALTH EVENTS.
WE GO TO A LOT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIRS.
PROVIDE SCREENING SERVICES AT THOSE.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE KIDNEY EARLY EVALUATION PROGRAM.
WHEN THEY DO THEIR SCHEDULED EVENTS IN TOWN, THEY USUALLY
HAVE ONE OR TWO A YEAR. KIDNEY DISEASE PREVENTION.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH EVMS. WE ARE WORKING WITH EVMS.
AND I DON'T KNOW, SEAN, IF YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT.
WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THEM. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH SOME OF
THE STUDENT CLINICIANS TO PROVIDE COMMUNICATION -- HEALTH
CARE COMMUNICATION INFORMATION TO THEM VIA SEAN AND ANOTHER RN
THAT I HAVE THAT HAVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN HOW TO HANDLE
DIFFERENT HEALTH CARE COMMUNICATION SITUATIONS.
WE WORK WITH OTHER TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS.
WE'RE PARTNERING WITH EVMS AND ODU FOR PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK
ACTIVITIES. JUST A LOT OF THINGS THAT COME
ALONG. WE DO SOME WORK WITH SOME OF THE
OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
STD, EPIDEMIOLOGY, WE'RE A PART OF THE BMI PROJECT.
SOME HEALTH PROMOTIONS. WE WORK WITH YOU ON SOME THINGS
OBVIOUSLY. AND SOME OTHER THINGS WITH
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. >> AND WHAT OTHER KIND OF
PROJECTS HAVE YOU GUYS -- I THINK THE BOTH OF YOU WORKED ON
THE -- YOU BOTH WORKED ON PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT.
>> YES. >> AND I THINK YOU WORKED ON THE
ILLUMINATING GOOD HEALTH COALITION AS WELL.
>> YES. >> WHAT OTHER KIND OF PROJECTS
HAVE YOU WORKED ON? >> WELL, I WORKED WITH THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS ASSISTING -- >> WAS THAT THE BMI PROJECT?
>> NO. THAT WAS IMMUNIZATIONS FOR THE
FLU AND THEN TDAP. >> OKAY.
>> AND WHAT ELSE DID WE DO? WE DID THE --
>> SYMPOSIUM. >> THE SYMPOSIUM IN DOWNTOWN.
>> WE DO A LOT OF IMMUNIZATION STUFF.
>> YES. YOU DO A LOT OF STUFF IN
GENERAL. LINDA, TO SOMEONE THAT'S
WATCHING, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM THAT THEY WOULD FIND
PERSONALLY REWARDING? HOW IS IT A REWARDING EXPERIENCE
TO WORK WITH MRC? >> BECAUSE YOU GET THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET GREAT PEOPLE.
I REALLY CAN'T EMPHASIZE THAT ENOUGH.
I REALLY LOVE MY VOLUNTEERS. THEY ARE HANDS ON, CAN DO SORT
OF PEOPLE. THEY COME FROM A LOT OF GREAT
BACKGROUNDS. I LEARN FROM THEM EVERY SINGLE
DAY. AND I'VE HEARD THAT FROM YOU
GUYS AND FROM OTHER FOLKS THAT I'VE TALKED TO.
WOW, YOU KNOW, I NEVER KNEW THAT, BUT SO-AND-SO BROUGHT ME A
PIECE OF KNOWLEDGE I DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.
AND IT'S THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY OPEN YOUR EYES AND SEE
WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH IS ABOUT. >> UH-HUH.
>> MUCH LIKE SEAN WAS DESCRIBING.
YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE OUR VISIONS OF WHAT THE HOMELESSNESS
IN IS. WE ALL HAVE VISION OF WHAT
PUBLIC HEALTH IS. AND, IN FACT, IT'S A WHOLE WORLD
DIFFERENT THAN MOST PEOPLE THINK IT IS.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN AND GET HANDS ON TIME DOING
DIFFERENT THINGS. SERVING DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
SERVING DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS. REALLY LEARNING ABOUT ISSUES I
THINK IS VERY, VERY REWARDING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
>> I WANTED TO ASK THE BOTH OF YOU WE TALKED ABOUT THE WOMAN
THAT JUST MOVED INTO TOWN THAT HAD FOUND HERSELF HOMELESS.
CAN EITHER OF YOU OR BOTH OF YOU CITE A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE,
SOMETHING THAT YOU FOUND PARTICULARLY MEMORABLE FROM YOUR
WORK AS A VOLUNTEER WITH THE NORFOLK MRC.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO SAY DURING THE VACCINATION CLINICS THAT
WE'VE HELD, WE'VE HELD THEM AT SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY EVENTS,
PARKS, I, MYSELF, WAS SOMEONE THAT DID NOT EVER WANT TO GET A
FLU SHOT. SO THROUGH EDUCATION AND
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH MY GROUP, I WAS EDUCATED ON --
>> HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET THE FLU SHOT.
>> YES. HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET A FLU
SHOT. THAT'S HUGE.
>> THAT'S A BIT OF EDUCATION THAT WE ALWAYS TRY TO GET OUT.
BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT DON'T GET A FLU SHOT, AND
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DONE.
YOURSELF, SEAN, IS THERE A PARTICULARLY MEMORABLE
EXPERIENCE THAT YOU CAN RECALL? >> I THINK WE ALSO HELP OUT IN
THE SHELTERS DURING HURRICANE SEASON.
>> YES. >> AND I THINK JUST WORKING
TOGETHER WITH OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE SHELTERS
AND GETTING TO KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT COME INTO THE SHELTERS.
IT WAS REWARDING FOR ME TO BE WITH THE OTHER NURSES AND THE
OTHER HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL AND THE OTHER VOLUNTEERS WHO COME
TOGETHER TO HELP THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND IT WAS -- I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD ENJOY IT, BUT WHAT CAN YOU
ENJOY IN THE MIDDLE OF A HURRICANE?
>> YES. >> IT REALLY MAKES THAT CRITICAL
TIME A LITTLE BIT EASIER WHEN YOU WORK WITH PEOPLE LIKE TAVIA
AND OTHERS AT THE MRC TO MAKE IT NOT QUITE AS SCARY AS IT COULD
BE. >> RIGHT.
>> BUT IT'S AN INTERESTING TIME FOR ALL OF US.
>> LINDA, WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT TRAININGS.
YOU GUYS PROVIDE TRAINING FOR THE MRC VOLUNTEERS.
AND THE TRAINING FREQUENTLY COMES WITH DIFFERENT EXERCISES.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE TRAINING AND THE EXERCISES THAT
MRC VOLUNTEERS TEND TO PARTICIPATE IN?
>> THERE IS SOME REQUIRED TRAINING THAT WE HAVE FOLKS TAKE
THAT REALLY INFORMS THEM ON THE BACKGROUND OF THE MRC AND HOW
DISASTER SITUATIONS WORK AND SO FORTH.
AND THAT'S FEMA TRAINING. THAT'S AVAILABLE TO ANYBODY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN THE MRC TO TAKE IT.
>> THAT'S INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM.
>> NATIONAL COMMAND SYSTEM. IT JUST GIVES YOU THE BACKGROUND
SO YOU KNOW THE STRUCTURE WE'RE ALL OPERATING UNDER.
WE HAVE THEM TAKE SOME PREPAREDNESS TRAINING.
WE HAVE THEM TAKE SOME MENTAL HEALTH PREPAREDNESS TRAINING SO
THAT THEY ARE -- FEEL COMFORTABLE OPERATING IN A
DISASTROUS SITUATION. THAT'S NOT YOUR NORMAL EVERY
DAY. SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUR
VOLUNTEERS GO IN PREPARED. BUT THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER
OPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE OFFER TO VOLUNTEERS THAT IT'S UP
TO THEM IF THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE.
BUT WE PUT IT OUT THERE. SUCH AS WE HAVE MASS CASUALTY
INCIDENT TRAINING OR WE CALL IT STAR TRIAGE.
THAT'S OFFERED IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE TIDE
WATER COUNCIL. WE OFFER TRAINING IN CPR AND
FIRST AID, BLS. WE HAVE TRAINING -- SOME SHARED
TRAINING THAT WE DO BETWEEN THE UNITS VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE OR
POLYCOM. AND IT FEATURES DIFFERENT
THINGS. THIS ONE IS ON ALZHEIMER'S OR
DEMENTIA. WE'VE DONE SOME OF THE TRAINING
WITH EPIDEMIOLOGY AND OUR MASS FATALITY RESPONSE TEAM AND
THINGS LIKE THAT. WE HAVE HAD OTHER SPECIALIZED
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE FBI ON LEADERSHIP TRAINING,
SCHEME OPERATIONS TRAINING. >> UH-HUH.
>> SOME THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE NORFOLK SPECIAL
OPERATIONS TEAM. SO WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR
GOOD OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH PARTNERS.
IT'S NOT ALL TRAINING. IT'S JUST ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE
GOING TO DO WITH THE MRC. SOME OF IT IS THE BIGGER PICTURE
OF SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS IN REAL LIFE.
>> AND FOR ANYONE THAT'S INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING, IT'S
AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN QUITE A BIT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. AND WE'VE RECENTLY BEEN GETTING
A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE EASTERN VIRGINIA HEALTH CARE
COALITION. THEY SEND OUT -- AND THEY FUND
AND SEND OUT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.
SO FOR OUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, THERE'S BEEN MORE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO GET SOME CEUs, CME TYPE CREDITS.
>> BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME, I JUST WANT TO GET IN A COUPLE
MORE QUESTIONS TO YOU GUYS. YOU MENTIONED SCHOOL.
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO USE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE MRC IN YOUR
FUTURE? HOW WILL IT BENEFIT YOUR FUTURE
ENDEAVORS? >> DEFINITELY PATIENT CONTACT.
THAT'S GOING TO -- WHAT I'VE LEARNED HERE AT MRC DEALING WITH
PUBLIC HEALTH WILL DEFINITELY HELP ME BE MORE SELF AWARE WITH
MY PATIENT CONTACT FOR A LIFETIME.
>> UH-HUH. AND, SEAN, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO
SOMEONE WHO IS CONSIDERING BECOMING AN MRC VOLUNTEER?
>> WELL, I THINK AT THIS STAGE OF MY LIFE AND OTHERS AT THIS
STAGE OF THEIR LIVES, I THINK YOU FIND THAT IT'S REALLY,
REALLY DIFFICULT TO FIND SOMEPLACE THAT YOU FEEL THAT
YOU'RE REALLY BEING USEFUL. >> UH-HUH.
>> AND WHETHER YOU'RE MEDICAL OR NON-MEDICAL, YOU CAN BRING
WHATEVER YOU DID OR WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN WITH YOU TO
THE MRC, WHETHER IT'S AN ADMINISTRATION, WORKING
COMMUNICATION, OR JUST SIMPLY HELPING US SET UP FOR DIFFERENT
OPERATIONS. I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR ALL OF US
TO BE INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY UNTIL YOU SEE
THEM IN ALL ASPECTS. THE GOOD AND THE BAD.
SO IT'S BEEN A GOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME AS WELL TO GET
TO KNOW NORFOLK. >> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD PICTURE
FOR ANYONE THAT'S WATCHING THAT WANTS TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE
MRC. GET INVOLVED FOR THE MEDICAL
RESERVE CORPS, OR ANY UNIT. LADIES, I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR
YOU. PARTICULARLY FOR YOU, LINDA.
ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THE MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS HELPED IS MY GOOD
FRIENDS HERE AT CHANNEL 15 WHRO.TV, YOU VOLUNTEER FOR THE
FUND DRIVES THAT CHANNEL 15 DOES.
AND I KNOW WE HAVE A PICTURE -- THERE IT IS.
RIGHT UP THERE. AND THERE IS YOURS BECAUSE I
WORK WITH THE NORFOLK MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS.
I'M STILL NOT QUITE SURE MY EXACT TITLE, BUT I DO KNOW THAT
I HAVE A TITLE. >> YOU ARE A LEVEL ONE
VOLUNTEER. I KNOW YOUR TITLE.
>> LEVEL ONE VOLUNTEER. MOST OF THE OTHER VOLUNTEERS ARE
15 OR 30 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING WHAT
WE DO HERE AT CHANNEL 15 AND WHAT YOU DO FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.
FOR SOMEONE, ALL OF THOSE HUNDRED PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT
WANT TO SIGN UP NOW FOR THE NORFOLK MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS,
HOW CAN THEY DO THAT. >> THEY CAN CONTACT ME.
MY PHONE NUMBER IS 757-683-2760. OR THEY CAN E-MAIL ME AT
LINDA.BOTTS@VDH.VIRGINIA.GOV. EITHER ONE OF THOSE WAYS I WOULD
BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THEY MIGHT HAVE OR TO DIRECT
THEM HOW THEY CAN FILL OUT THEIR APPLICATION AND GET STARTED.
WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME. >> AND THEN 30 SECONDS OR LESS,
I ALWAYS LOVE IT WHEN THEY SAY THAT, 30 SECONDS OR LESS, THE
VMI PROJECT. I KNOW THE NORFOLK MEDICAL
RESERVE CORPS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE PROJECT.
ABOUT HOW MANY VOLUNTEERS DID YOU HAVE WORKING ON THAT?
>> WE HAD ABOUT A DOZEN VOLUNTEERS THAT PARTICIPATED ON
THAT. >> WENT ON MOSTLY EVERY DAY?
>> UH-HUH. >> LADIES, I WANT TO THANK YOU
ALL SO VERY MUCH IN YOUR BLUE PULLOVERS THERE FOR JOINING US.
IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU AND I SEE YOU ALL THE TIME IN THE
OFFICE. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU AS
WELL, MS. BOTTS. THANK YOU FOR COMING ON TO
HEALTHWATCH AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE
MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS AND ESPECIALLY THE NORFOLK MEDICAL
RESERVE CORPS. AND, OF COURSE, WE WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY ON THIS EDITION OF HEALTHWATCH.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU CAN CALL ME AT 757-683-8836.
CAN YOU ALSO SEE PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF HEALTHWATCH ONLINE
AT WWW.NORFOLK.GOV/HEALTH WATCH. FOR THE NORFOLK DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC HEALTH, I'M TERRANCE AFER-ANDERSON AND THIS HAS BEEN
HEALTHWATCH. REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING
PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING COMPANY.