Davis is seeking medical workers for emergencies

FARMINGTON — In the event of a major emergency, such as a pandemic flu outbreak, the Davis County Health Department will need medical professionals to run mass vaccination clinics.

The county's health department recently received a $10,000 grant from the National Association of County and City Health Officials to get a database of medical professionals up and running. And in 2008, the department will likely need to begin funding what is known as the Medical Reserve Corps out of its own budget, said Lewis Garrett, the county's health department director.

"We're primarily looking for people not already in the work force," he said.

That way, the health department won't draw on doctors and nurses who have responsibilities in hospitals.

Ideally, five to 10 people who are comfortable giving injections would be needed at each mass clinic and at least that number again to run a second shift. At least one medical doctor would be needed at each location to run the screening process and make sure people weren't allergic to the antibiotics.

The department already has an agreement with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to use one large meetinghouse in each of the church's 55 Davis County stakes in a crisis. But that's just one part of the coordination puzzle, Garrett said.

Having enough medical workers could allow health officials to vaccinate all 280,000 Davis County residents in six hours, Garrett said last year when the agreement with the LDS Church was signed.

"There just aren't enough people working at the health department to handle that," Garrett said Thursday.

The department now has about 20 nurses on staff.

More information about the Medical Reserve Corps can be found online at www.medicalreservecorps.gov. Anyone who would like to join Davis County's medical reserve corps may call the county's emergency planning coordinator, Ivy Melton Sales, at (801) 451-3581.

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E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com