As the events of September 11th, Hurricane Katrina and recent international earthquake activity indicate, there is a pressing need to recruit, pre-register and pre-credential health professionals, particularly health care professionals. Formerly known as LA County ESAR-VHP, the LA County Disaster Healthcare Volunteers (DHV) is a collaborative effort lead by the County of Los Angeles Departments of Health Services, Emergency Medical Services Agency and Public Health to eliminate the following problems: identification of medical, health and mental health professionals and other volunteers at disaster sites; validation of practice and license; proper credentialing and training. In addition to the LA County Surge Unit, there are three Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units within our program, including MRC Los Angeles, Beach Cities Health District MRC and Long Beach MRC. Volunteers are given a choice of units when they register. LA County DHV is part of a federally mandated statewide and nationwide effort to recruit and register healthcare volunteers in advance of the next disaster.
LA County Surge Unit
Welcome to the site for the Los Angeles County Disaster Healthcare Volunteers-LA County Surge Unit. This is the "hospital ready" team for volunteers who wish to be assigned primarily to hospitals following disasters. It operates under the coordination of the Emergency Medical Services Agency of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Qualifications for this team include:
• Medical, health or mental health professionals with a current unrestricted license, maintaining an active practice and currently on staff at an "acute care" hospital or another medical, health or mental health setting in Los Angeles County.
• RETIRED professionals who maintain current licensure and must have been employed in at least one of the settings mentioned above within the last five years.
• General volunteers interested in volunteering in a non-medical support role.
• Must be interested in volunteering at a hospital or alternative care site (clinic, first aid station, mobile medical asset, etc) following a disaster.