Residents sought for medical team

The Ocean County Health Department is offering training and education to county residents who wish to become a volunteer member of the Medical Reserve Corps.

According to Daniel Regenye, the health department's assistant public health coordinator, the department is looking for additional volunteers to help with its response in dealing with the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu.

The Ocean County Health Department invites healthcare professionals and community volunteers to join the Medical Reserve Corps. Any licensed or certified healthcare professional, whether practicing or retired, can apply to be a member. Community volunteers who are not healthcare professionals are also encouraged to apply.

According to a press release, during a public health emergency, volunteers may be asked to perform duties in accordance with their interests, training and experiences. As the health department continues to respond to the H1N1 virus, which may call for establishing vaccination clinics throughout Ocean County, Medical Reserve Corps volunteers may be called upon for administrative duties, clerical or reception duties, translation services, or direct patient care.

"The Medical Reserve Corps volunteers are truly a dedicated group of people. They have worked together to help our county residents during past public health efforts. In the past, Medical Reserve Corps volunteers have provided assistance in staffing the health department's flu clinics, the potassium iodide (KI) distribution clinics and offered phone assistance to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services when the call center was opened in Somerset to answer questions on H1N1 influenza," said Freeholder Deputy Director Gerry P. Little, the liaison to the Ocean County Health Department.

Anyone interested in applying may call Mary Gibson at 732-341-9700, ext. 7280, or send an email to Mgibson@ochd.org.