Are you considering traveling to hot spots in the U.S. to help with the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, consider these questions as you make your plans.
- Clarify financial expectations
- Will my housing and travel expenses be covered?
- Will there be coverage for meals and groceries?
- Will washing machines and dryers be available for use?
- If being paid for service, is it weekly or hourly? If weekly, what are the anticipated hours to work? Is there a sign on bonus?
- Assuming I will need to be quarantined, how will I be paid during this time and who will I receive it from?
- Establish your time commitment
- Do you have an idea of length of time needed? Can I come for short periods of time as needed (e.g., I have two weeks of time available)?
- Will my employer allow me to take time off and will I be allowed to return to work?
- Discuss personal health care options
- If I get sick, is my health care covered or am I to rely on my own coverage?
- If I am covered as a volunteer, will it continue for two weeks after I leave? Does coverage start immediately?
- What happens if I get injured? Will the hospital I work for provide me with coverage like worker’s compensation?
- Will there be assurances that I will have adequate PPE? Can I bring my own PPE?
- Discuss your skills and license
- Do you need a list of my skills? CV or resume?
- Do I have a preference where I can be assigned, inside or outside of a COVID-19 unit?
- Will this volunteer activity risk my license?
- Do I have to be licensed in the state that I am working?
- What classes or resources could I leverage to prepare?
- Get proof of all agreements
- Any agreements should be on paper or accessible digitally.
Qualified Volunteers Needed
The AARC partnered with the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Society of Anesthesiologists’, the American Thoracic Society, and PA Consulting to create a national-level clearinghouse of qualified volunteers who can be matched to communities in need during times when our health-care system needs to quickly expand capacity. If you have the ability and knowledge to help volunteer during this surge, we encourage you to fill out the Clinician Placement Form. This will allow these organizations to quickly identify our nations resources in the week’s and month’s ahead.
Email newsroom@aarc.org with questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you.
Heather Willden is the Director of Governance and Strategic Initiatives for the AARC where she works with state affiliates as the HOD liaison. She also manages DEI efforts and strategic initiatives. Connect with her about these topics by email, AARConnect or LinkedIn. When she's not working, you can find her podcasting with her husband, exploring new hiking trails, photographing, and spending time with her family.
