NEWS

Medical Reserve Corps of Southern Arizona Emergency Preparedness Partnership with Vacmobile

Contact: Tim Siemsen or Jennifer Sparks
(202) 643-5717 or (505) 814-8357

TUCSON, AZ – November 1, 2022 – The Medical Reserve Corps of Southern Arizona (MRCSA), located at 850 North Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ 85710 is pleased to be partnering with Vacmobile Corporation to improve emergency preparedness specifically as it pertains to health security protocols. On November 5, 2022, the MRCSA will be hosting a Mass Casualty Training Exercise with representatives from multiple jurisdictions that will participate in the exercise which brings volunteers together to run simulations to prepare for disasters. To improve compliance and health outcomes, MRCSA will be using Vacmobile’s end-to-end digital solution to manage health security at the exercise and will be training all attendees on the use of the platform in the future for real emergencies.  This exercise brings together the emergency preparedness leadership from across multiple jurisdictions of Southern Arizona as well as MRCSA medical professionals that can be deployed on a moment’s notice to assist in the face of any disaster.

Tim Siemsen stated, “Since our inception, 20 years ago, after 9-11, the MRCSA has been committed to improving the health, emergency response and resiliency in our communities. We are proud to have been among the first Medical Reserve Corps units in the country. As we continue to navigate the ongoing threats posed by an endemic COVID and other known and unknown pathogens, we recognize the importance of leveraging real-time vaccination and test record data collection to quickly understand the risk of a disease outbreak and spread in an emergency setting where individuals may be sheltering in close quarters.  Additionally, we recognize Vacmobile’s utility for managing ongoing routine vaccination requirements for all new hires and for those first responders and healthcare professionals which may require proof of immunizations to obtain or maintain their employment.”

Jennifer Sparks, CEO of Vacmobile Corporation stated, “This partnership is particularly important to us at Vacmobile because we recognize that, especially during emergencies, it is easy to lose sight of the very real, ongoing threats posed by airborne pathogens. It is our honor to help improve safety for all individuals involved in an emergency.  Vacmobile’s cutting-edge solution is easy to deploy and provides instant visibility on herd immunity and real time spread of infection. Acquiring up-to the minute data to make decisions is very important for protecting the most vulnerable.”

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MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS UNIT OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA (Tucson, AZ)

MRCSA welcomes licensed health and medical personnel, including nurses, nurse practitioners, veterinarians, pharmacists, doctors, chiropractors, physician assistants, behavioral health professionals and dentists. Volunteers with active licenses as well as retired health professionals and students in healthcare career tracks are the Medical Reserve Corps of Southern Arizona.

MRCSA volunteers are prepared to provide surge capacity in local disasters, including but not limited to assisting with medical and non-medical functions at mass prophylaxis and vaccination clinics; exercise and drill planning and participation; staffing call centers and phone banks; post-event incident follow-up; supporting continuity of operations for hospitals and clinics during public health emergencies; assisting community long-term recovery efforts through outreach and assistance; data collection and entry; general and post crisis education; foreign language education and interpretation; information technology support; local resource dissemination; and other logistical support at public clinics. Non-emergent activities address daily community health needs.