Medical Station Response Team

Scissors cutting at med station

The U of MN MRC Medical Station provides on-site medical screening and care at a Family Assistance Center, Friends and Relatives Reunification Center, or other support/shelter venue following a mass casualty incident or other public health emergency. The MRC Medical Station healthcare providers provide initial medical assessment of those with acute health concerns and support for those with chronic health conditions in need of assistance. The MRC Medical Station is not intended to provide first responder or emergency medical care nor operate in contaminated or unsecured environments.  

Team Leads: April Brigham, Oona Beall

Team Member Roles and Responsibilities

Team Member Roles

  1. Initial assessment of persons requesting assistance
  2. Evaluation including vital signs and a screening history and examination
  3. Referral to definitive care for persons with potentially serious medical conditions 
  4. Basic life support (BLS) as required until EMS arrives to transport a referred patient 
  5. Minor wound care (e.g. small abrasions, contusions not requiring further evaluation)
  6. Basic over-the-counter and other medications for minor symptom management (e.g. analgesics, antihistamine )
  7. Assistance to victims with medication administration for known conditions such as asthma (e.g. albuterol inhaler)
  8. Facilitation of access to prescription medication (non-controlled substances only) that victims cannot otherwise access due to the event circumstances and must have in order to prevent serious short-term adverse events (e.g. anti-epileptic medications, insulin) via telephone prescribing
  9. Coordination of transport / referral with EMS and receiving healthcare facility including provision of basic medical record
  10. Coordination with behavioral health support team members for management and referral of victims exhibiting emergency mental health conditions

Team Member Responsibilities

  1. Training
    1. Orientation to the U of M Medical Reserve Corps Program (2025)
    2. MRC 101 (2025)
    3. PODS (Points of Dispensing): Public Health Training for Staff and Volunteers
    4. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) & the Incident Command System (ICS): A Primer for Volunteers (2024)
    5. Psychological First Aid: A Community Supported Model (2024)
  2. Stay Current on MRC Activities by reading MRC newsletters and visiting the MRC website
  3. Attend 1-2 team meetings a year

Team Member Time Commitment

  • Attend a minimum of 1 team meeting per year
  • Time commitment during actual responses/deployments will vary
  • Participate in drills and exercises when available
  • Participate in MRC deployments when available
  • View on-line training modules listed above (1 hour for each module)