About RI Responds
A Choice in Volunteer Opportunities
The RI Responds System registers and credentials healthcare and community volunteers in advance of a public health emergency or disaster response. You, as a volunteer, get to choose your level of commitment. RIDMAT/MRC offers registered volunteers training opportunities including field hospital operations whereas SERV-RI volunteers pre-register with the RI Responds and will be notified only in the instance of a public health emergency or disaster.
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YOU CHOOSE YOUR LEVEL OF COMMITMENT EITHER WAY
RI Responds is an initiative that places recruitment and management of Rhode Island's healthcare volunteers under one state-wide system. It is a partnership between the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), the RI Disaster Medical Assistance Team's Medical Reserve Corps (RIDMAT/MRC).
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When a public health emergency occurs, there may be a need for volunteers who are trained in healthcare, public health and other related occupations who are willing to provide their services. We all have a role to play in preparing Rhode Island for the challenges of responding to a public health emergency. To enhance state-wide response capabilities, RIDOH will utilize RI Responds. RI Responds is an advance registration system composed of a secure database. All information provided by potential volunteers during the registration process will be verified prior to an emergency. This verification process ensures that volunteers are deployed quickly and efficiently.
When a decision is made to request the services of emergency volunteers, they will be notified using the contact information they have previously provided. Volunteers with the required skills will be notified in an emergency and asked to confirm their availability. (Volunteers are always able to decline participation in an emergency response.) Those who accept the deployment will be part of a coordinated effort within an incident management system.