
	Search:

Unit Spotlight - January 2006

Unit Name:	Southwest Florida Medical Reserve Corps
Contact Information:	2295 Victoria Avenue, Room 206 Fort Myers, FL 33901
Point of Contact:	MRC Executive Director - Wendy Wilderman
Phone:	239-338-3310
E-mail:	wendy_wilderman@doh.state.fl.us

When was the Unit Founded?

The Southwest Florida Medical Reserve Corps (SW Florida MRC) was established in September of 2002. It includes the counties of Charlotte, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Okeechobee, and Lee County, which acts as home base for the unit.

What Drives the Unit?

The mission of the SW Florida MRC is to serve as a healthcare resource to South Central and Southwest Florida. The SW Florida MRC supports and assists local governments, area hospitals, and non-profit disaster response agencies with emergency medical operations and vital public and community health activities.

How Many Volunteers Does the Unit Have?

The SW Florida MRC currently has 201 volunteers; of which, 27 are non-medical.

How Large is the Unit’s Staff?

The staff consists of the MRC Executive Director, who currently works part time with the unit.

Why was the Unit Selected?

The SW Florida MRC was selected because of the its ability to adhere to both emergency response and public health initiatives. The unit has readily responded to local and national emergencies, while remaining active throughout the year by participating in disaster drills, emergency preparedness exercises, training, and providing first aid at special events within the community.

What are Some of the Unit’s Activities?

The SW Florida MRC responded to the fall 2004 hurricane disasters by assisting an American Red Cross special needs shelter. Members also provided care to medically fragile people in health department special needs shelters and staffed a first aid clinic to treat hurricane survivors' post-storm injuries.

In 2005, SW Florida MRC volunteers were deployed locally and to the Gulf Coast region in response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. Members of the SW Florida MRC participated in the multi-agency Lee Countywide Disaster Drill with EMS, hospitals, and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs). Additionally, the unit participated in Operation BioShield using the Strategic National Stockpile to test health department plans for activation during a local disaster. SW Florida MRC members acted out various roles.

Training is held for SW Florida MRC members, and orientation is provided for all new MRC members. AMA Core Disaster Life Support training is offered through the combination of films, triage practice, and case studies. Modified CERT training is available for non-medical volunteers to provide them with a background in emergency management. In addition, MRC members receive continuing education credits for disaster medical health courses taken through the unit.

What are Some of the Unit’s Achievements?

The SW Florida MRC formed a partnership with the Florida Gulf Coast University to have access to advanced technology training rooms. Members of the university staff are part of the MRC, and the collaboration also has recruited new members.

Recently, the SW Florida MRC developed a Massage Therapy Strike Team, which currently has seven members. The team would treat victims, first responders, and other MRC members during an emergency response situation.

Interesting Facts

The SW Florida MRC Medical Director, Dr. Pat Santucci, helped to form the National MRC Disaster Mental Health Working Group and was deployed for 2 weeks as the only psychiatrist aboard the Cruise Ship Holiday, which served as a shelter for 1,400 evacuees from Mississippi.
MRC Executive Director, Wendy Wilderman, serves on the Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals national working group.
SW Florida MRC members formed a separate 501(c) (3) organization to financially sustain the unit.

Last Updated on 5/25/2006