Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MRC?
What do we do?
How does this differ from DMAT?
Who runs this program?
Do I have to be a health care professional to volunteer?
Can retired persons join?
What will my role be in the MRC?
What about liability?
How is training conducted?
Will I be paid?
What is the time commitment?
Is there travel involved?
Will this interfere with my regular job?
Do I have to live in Davidson County?
How do I become a member?
What do I do once I have “become a member”/ registered?

What is the MRC?
The Medical Reserve Corps is a specialized component of the Citizen Corps, a federally-sponsored program that encourages volunteerism. The national program was officially launched in July 2002 and there are now almost 200 MRC units serving their communities across the USA. The MTMRC uses volunteers to help strengthen the capacity of the Middle Tennessee region to prepare and respond to disaster situations as well as serve other health care needs of our community. The MTMRC does not compete with other community agencies, but rather supplements the existing community health care resources.

What do we do?
The primary function of MTMRC volunteers is to provide healthcare services to the Middle Tennessee community. A major emphasis of the MTMRC is to provide supplemental heath care services during times of disaster and emergencies. However, we also recognize that the MTMRC can play an important part in dealing with non-disaster healthcare problems within our community.

How does the MRC differ from DMAT?
The MRC functions and is activated at the local level, as opposed to DMAT, in which members become federalized during the time of disaster and typically respond to disasters outside of their own communities.

Who runs this program?
The MTMRC is administratively run through the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in collaboration with Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County Health Department. Dr. Seth Wright, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, is the coordinator of the MTMRC. Please click here for more information about the organizational structure of our program. Please click here to navigate to our Contact Us page.

Do I have to be a health care professional to volunteer?
No. We have need for all types of volunteers, both licensed health care professionals and support staff. Please click here for a complete list of personnel who are valuable resources for the MTMRC.

Can retired persons join?
Yes, of course. We welcome the important skills of retired persons.

What will my role be in the MRC?
Your exact role within the MTMRC will depend upon your skills, interests and licensure. Volunteers are grouped into one of three credentialing categories, depending upon skills and licensure. Please click here for a description of the credentialing categories.

What about liability?
Please click here for information about liability for volunteers in the State of Tennessee.

How is training conducted?
Training will depend upon your anticipated role within the MTMRC. All participants must participate in an initial orientation program prior to becoming an active member of the MTMRC. Basic Life Support (CPR) certification is highly recommended for all participants. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is highly recommended for all healthcare providers. Volunteers must complete any training course that is specific for their functions within the MTMRC.

Will I be paid?
Only during federal deployments. Local efforts are strictly volunteer.

What is the time commitment?
The time commitment will depend upon your role within the organization. At a minimum, volunteers will be expected to participate in the orientation program. Other training sessions may also be required for specific personnel. Efforts will be made to make these as succinct as possible. We expect that all members will participate in at least one training/education session or other activity per year to remain an active member.

Is there travel involved?
Not for Basic members. Some travel may be involved if you choose to be involved in federal deployment.

Will this interfere with my regular job?
The time commitments of the MTMRC should not interfere with usual employment. Disasters, of course, are not scheduled and potential volunteers should determine if their job will allow them to be available in the event of a major disaster. People who have to report to their place of employment in the event of a disaster (paramedics, police, emergency physicians, etc.) may not be ideal MTMRC volunteers, although there still might be a valuable role with us as trainers or organizers. Please talk to us if you have a question about the MTMRC and its effect on your regular job.

Do I have to live in Davidson County?
No. We serve the entire Middle Tennessee region.

How do I become a member?
Please click here for an application. We will contact you shortly.