NC DHHS calls for physician and PA volunteers
As part of the state’s preparedness efforts Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS), has issued a call for volunteers to bolster the current health care workforce. There will likely be opportunities in the following areas:
• Clinical (physicians, advanced care providers, nurses, EMS)
• Clinical Support (pharmacy, imaging and respiratory care)
• Non-clinical support (facility maintenance, safety, and administrative)
Clinicians who are interested in volunteering should register though the NC Training, Exercise, and Response Management System (NC TERMS), which is a volunteer response system run by NC DHHS. Once registered, NC DHHS will assess need in the state and contact volunteers based on clinical background and geography. NCMB is not involved in the volunteer registration process or in making volunteer assignments.
The volunteer registration system can be accessed here. Read the March 20 letter from Sec. Cohen for detailed instructions.
To support efforts to recruit qualified volunteers, NCMB has created an emergency temporary license application that allows physicians and PAs who were previously licensed in North Carolina and inactivated a medical license within the past 24 months to quickly return to practice. Access the online application here.
Physicians and PAs who are 65 or older should review COVID-19 guidance for older adults, who are at greater risk of serious illness. Understand that there are many ways to help, including telehealth opportunities, that minimize the risks to clinicians.
