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Date: 10/19/2022
WESTFIELD — The search for a director for Westfield’s Medical Reserve Corps continues as the Health Department seeks to keep its own emergency response group in Westfield.
Health Director Joseph Rouse said on Oct. 12 that out of two qualified candidates for the position, one had just withdrawn from consideration, though the other may still be interested.
The Medical Reserve Corps is a volunteer group that steps in to provide medical assistance in the event of disasters like tornadoes, blizzards, fires, and other mass emergencies. For 25 years, Westfield has had its own team, but without a director, Rouse said that the city would likely have to join a regional group, which may not guarantee as quick of a response time as a local volunteer team.
“It is really hard to get this back together and I think COVID[-19] really killed it. We were going good and having drills, when you don’t have that opportunity to physically get together and do the tabletops, the interest kind of goes away,” said Rouse to the Board of Health Oct. 12.
In her weekly column in The Westfield News on Oct. 15, Board of Health Chair Juanita Carnes characterized the position as “desperately needed.” She said the volunteer corps has been of “indispensable assistance” in recent years after tornadoes, blizzards, fires and other emergency situations, and in staffing public health fairs and clinics.
According to Carnes, the director does not need to be a medical professional, but does need to good planning, management and volunteer recruitment skills, and an understanding of the Westfield community and Medical Reserve Corps operations. She said the board is willing to consider applicants to take the full job or to share it. Anyone interested should call Rouse at 572-6210.
Carnes also said the Medical Reserve Corps is looking for additional volunteers. Both medical and non-medical roles are available, including administrators, drivers, chaplains, trainers, fundraisers, translators and supply and logistics workers. More information is available at bit.ly/rp10jy.