What is the NJMRC?
The New Jersey Medical Reserve Corps (NJMRC) is a component of the New Jersey Citizen Corps. The program is designed to identify and register individuals who are willing to serve within their local area during a public health emergency.
Will volunteers receive training?
Volunteers will need to participate in training and education in order to be adequately prepared should an event occur. The NJ Department of Health and Senior Services will provide MRC units with guidelines for training. Scroll down and click on underlined hyperlink to view List of Trainings.
Liability protection addressed
New Jersey law provides that a volunteer acting in good faith, carrying out, complying with or attempting to comply with, any order rule of regulation promulgated pursuant to a declared emergency, or performing any authorized service in connection therewith, shall not be liable of any injury or death to persons or damage to property as a result of any such activity unless a volunteer acts recklessly or with a wholly unnecessary disregard of life, limb and/ or property.
The state of New Jersey has recently signed into law further liability protection by implementing the Emergency Health Powers Act (EHPA). This act states that the commissioner may establish a register of health professional, and community volunteers to provide assistance in the event of a Public Health Emergency. The registry will be known as the Emergency Health Care Provider Registry or Medical Reserve Corps.
“An emergency health care provider, worker, public health worker and support services personnel registered under this section who provides health care services on a voluntary basis shall not be liable for any civil damages as a result of the person’s acts or omissions in providing medical care or treatment related to the public health emergency in good faith and in accordance with the provisions of this act.”
Who can join the NJMRC?
The NJMRC invites both health care professionals and community volunteers. Any licensed or certified healthcare professional, practicing or retired, living in the State of New Jersey can apply to be a member. Community volunteers who are not health professionals are also encouraged to apply.
What duties will I perform?
During a public health emergency, volunteers will be asked to perform duties in accordance with their interests, training, and experiences. Some duties might include.
- Direct patient care
- Administrative duties
- Clerical or reception duties
- Translation services
Most of these duties will be performed at an emergency vaccination or antibiotic distribution site called a POD.
View Training Videos
These videos describe the Category A diseases: smallpox, anthrax, botulism, plague, tularemia, and viral hemorrhagic fevers. If these germs were used to intentionally infect people, they would cause the most illness and death. Watch these videos to learn how some of these agents have been or can be used as bioterrorist weapons. Links are hosted by the Centers For Disease Control (CDC).
List of Trainings
There are three ways to join:
1. Log onto www.njmrc.nj.gov , Click Online Application, chose Ocean County and click on the Health Professional or Community Health Volunteer Application to submit.
2. Click here MGibson@ochd.org to E-Mail the Ocean County MRC your detailed information.
You may download the forms to fill out and submit via fax.