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March 25, 2020 | Volunteering During the COVID-19 Pandemic

March 26, 2020
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March 25, 2020 | Volunteering During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Hello Everyone,

The international, national and local community responses to this unprecedented crisis has been fluid, fast, slow, conflicting, unified - all at the same time. We imagine that this has caused mixed emotions in all of you, as it has us.

We have heard from many of you and are relieved that you are well. From your student list serves, you may know that students in some hard-hit areas have been able to contribute in various supporting roles. Your opportunity in the Mountain West region is coming.

Depending on where you are located, we believe that coordinated volunteer opportunities will likely arise in the very near future within our clinical training network. In an effort to partner with our community, we are compiling a list of students who are willing and able to volunteer in this national crisis. Please let your coordinator know if you are willing to volunteer and where you will be at the end of next week (April 3rd). Potential volunteer roles may include:

  1. Support roles in hospitals to help comfort the sick in overflow areas.
  2. Support roles in hospitals to transport patients.
  3. Support roles in hospitals for medical documentation.
  4. Support roles from home, assisting in telephone triage and guidance
  5. Support roles from home, assisting staff with paperwork necessary for emergency credentialing of providers, and other such tasks.
  6. Support roles in various locations to screen or test people.

All volunteer activities would be in addition to any required core didactic course work. Please consider your workload carefully before volunteering.

As previously communicated, all clinical portions of externships/rotations have been suspended through the end of April. Therefore, if a volunteer opportunity arises for you, please feel free to participate if you are able.

All volunteers must strictly adhere to the following guidelines:

  1. You should not deliver patient care or offer unscripted medical advice to patients.
  2. You must be properly attired and badged as a volunteer at the clinical site
  3. You must wear PPE as directed by the clinical site
  4. You must sign an RVU attestation that states you are volunteering at your own risk and not in the capacity as a RVU student. You must have a representative of the clinical site sign as well, and then return the form electronically to RVU (phone picture of document is acceptable). A link to the attestation form will be provided to you in a separate email next Monday, in anticipation of a growing need for volunteers soon.

Should you be asked to treat and care for patients within what you recognize as your traditional role as a student or beyond, you must contact Dr. Miller or Allison Poole to discuss your participation in such a care role, before accepting such a volunteer assignment.

Thank you for professional and flexible responses to this extraordinary situation. Your professionalism is a testimony to you, and to RVU. We will follow with additional communication next week about clinical rotation work beyond April.

Collegially,

Stephen J. Miller, DO, MPH, FACOFP
Associate Dean of Clinical Education

Cathy Ruff, PA-C
Chair and Program Director
Physician Assistant Program

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