What is MRC?

Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, many medical and healthcare professionals wanted to volunteer to help. However, there was no system in place to efficiently identify them, check credentials and training, and assign them to the "right place at the right time."

Rescue team at work. Anthrax attacks on the east coast made even more evident the need to identify and organize health professionals to help with mass drug distribution and immunization efforts for thousands of people.

Under the umbrella of the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General and the White House's USA Freedom Corps, the Medical Reserve Corps was created in 2002.

The MRC program's main objective is establishing a system to identify, train, and organize medical and public health professionals, as well as lay volunteers to supplement and support on-going emergency response systems and personnel.

Each MRC is organized and tailored to meet specific needs in the community it serves.

All MRC organizations share the common goals of:

Creating teams of volunteer medical, public health, and lay professionals to help during emergencies and disasters.
Offering education and prevention to improve the public health of neighborhoods and communities.

For example, in the Northeast region, the Tulsa MRC's planning is directed by a team including Tulsa Citizens Corps and the Emergency Medical Services Authority, organized under the office of the Mayor. Municipalities sponsor the MRCs in Lawton and Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma MRC Nurses is sponsored by the Oklahoma Nurses Association.