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SCCM Calls for Volunteers

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SCCM recruits volunteer critical care clinicians to respond to emergency situations of all kinds. A request to organize a call for volunteers must be made by a government agent or other group/representative with medical licensure clearance authority. SCCM will then work directly with them to provide the information required and recruit volunteer clinicians from the critical care community. See details below on requesting an official call for volunteers.

Active Call for Volunteers 

In light of the ongoing situation in Israel, the Israeli Ministry of Health is building a list of medical personnel from abroad to volunteer in Israel should the need arise. This call for volunteers is authorized by Charles Sprung, MD, JD, MCCM, working with the Israeli Ministry of Health, and SCCM CEO/Executive Vice-President, David J. Martin, CAE.

Do not travel until you receive information from an Israeli Ministry of Health official.

Applying to volunteer does not commit you to actual participation.
You will be contacted directly if needed. At that time, the location of your volunteer service and logistic issues will be clarified, such as housing and travel.

Once you have submitted the volunteer application, you will receive an email requesting that the following documents be sent to medicalvolunteersforisrael@moh.gov.il:

  • Passport
  • Medical license
  • Specialization certification
  • Certificate of good standing (if available)
  • (Preferred) medical school certificate

Review these FAQs about SCCM’s call for volunteers process and expectations.

ACTIVE CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

In light of the ongoing situation in Israel, the Israeli Ministry of Health is building a list of medical personnel from abroad to volunteer in Israel should the need arise. This call for volunteers is authorized by Charles Sprung, MD, JD, MCCM, working with the Israeli Ministry of Health, and SCCM CEO/Executive Vice-President, David J. Martin, CAE.

Do not travel until you receive information from an Israeli Ministry of Health official.

Applying to volunteer does not commit you to actual participation. You will be contacted directly if needed. At that time, the location of your volunteer service and logistic issues will be clarified, such as housing and travel.

Once you have submitted the volunteer application, you will receive an email requesting that the following documents be sent to medicalvolunteersforisrael@moh.gov.il:

  • Passport
  • Medical license
  • Specialization certification
  • Certificate of good standing (if available)
  • (Preferred) medical school certificate

Review these FAQs about SCCM’s call for volunteers process and expectations.

ACTIVE CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

In light of the ongoing situation in Gaza, the Palestinian Ministry of Health is asking for critical care volunteers once a safe humanitarian corridor is secured. This call for volunteers is authorized by Yaser Bozya of the Palestinian Ministry of Health; Majdi Hamarshi, MD, FCCM, official SCCM member representative for the Palestinian Ministry of Health and chairman of the board of directors of the Palestinian American Medical Association; and SCCM CEO/Executive Vice-President, David J. Martin, CAE.

Do not travel until you receive information from a Palestinian Ministry of Health or Palestinian American Medical Association official.

Applying to volunteer does not commit you to actual participation. You will be contacted directly if needed. At that time, the location of your volunteer service and logistic issues will be clarified, such as housing and travel.

Review these FAQs about SCCM’s call for volunteers process and expectations.


Before You Submit Your Request for Volunteers 

A request to organize a call for volunteers must include the contact information of a government agent or other group/representative with medical licensure clearance authority. SCCM will then work directly with the agency to provide the information required and recruit volunteer clinicians from the critical care community. This process ensures that volunteers are processed properly so that when they arrive, they can immediately go to work helping those in need.

Review these FAQs about SCCM’s call for volunteers process and expectations.

How to Request a Call for Volunteers

A call for volunteers can be complicated because of the licensing issues necessary for medical personnel. SCCM follows a standardized procedure to activate a call for volunteers. Please read the information below before requesting a call for volunteers.
 
SCCM is pleased to coordinate calls for volunteers. If you need assistance, please reach out to SCCM with the contact information of the official capable of clearing licenses, or have the official contact SCCM directly at emergency@sccm.org. A member of our Emergency Response team will respond quickly.
 

U.S. Interstate Licensing

To issue a call for critical care volunteers, SCCM requires an official request from a state or national agency that has authority to manage interstate licensing. This is required, not to add another layer of complexity to an already difficult situation, but to ensure that when SCCM members respond, they can be legally licensed to practice in that state.
 
The Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioner Act (UEVHPA) is model legislation developed in 2006 by the Uniform Law Commission. This legislation allows any state that has enacted it to recognize out-of-state licenses for a variety of health practitioners during a state of declared emergency. Participating states must maintain a registration system under which all volunteer practitioners must register. As of 2020, 18 states and the District of Columbia have enacted UEVHPA legislation.
 
Existing occupational licensure compacts are also helpful in these difficult circumstances. For example, the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) allows nurses who are licensed and in good standing in one of the Compact member states to practice in any of the other member states automatically Thirty-two states are currently members of the eNLC Compact, and three states are considering legislation that would allow them to join in 2020. 
 
Similarly, the Recognition of EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (REPLICA) allows EMS personnel licensed in any one of the 19 Compact states (as of March 2020) to practice in any of the other member states. 
 
Many states have also enacted special legislation governing this matter.