Base clinic signs MOU with Red Cross

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The 66th Medical Squadron and the American Red Cross recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to begin a Red Cross Volunteer Program here.

The Red Cross has a continuous working relationship with various military organizations and programs involving health, welfare, recreation and morale of military personnel and their dependents.

"The Red Cross Volunteer Program will provide the clinic with a means to increase efficiencies in mission accomplishment," said Lt. Col. Paul Bostrom, 66 MDS chief of Medical Staff. "Conversely, the Red Cross will further its mission by receiving job-related training and experience for its volunteers interested in participating in this program."

With the new agreement in place, Red Cross volunteers will enable clinic Airmen to focus on the mission.

"The mission of the clinic is to 'promote health and optimize readiness,'" Bostrom said. "This agreement will allow Airmen to focus more on the readiness part of that."

The clinic will work closely with the Red Cross to coordinate the assignment of volunteers throughout the 66 MDS Military Treatment Facility.

"The clinic and Red Cross will assign volunteers in areas within the squadron that will best serve the needs of the clinic and the volunteer," said Bostrom, who will serve as the program's military representative.

According to the seven-page MOU, all volunteers will be required to complete installation-mandated background checks for access to the base as well as the access to computers and other Defense Department systems necessary to complete work assignments.

In addition, the clinic will ensure Red Cross volunteers are familiar with all applicable regulations, policies, procedures as well as requirements and limitations of volunteer service, Bostrom said.

MDS staff members will provide day-to-day supervision in the assigned work area, job-related immunizations or screenings and other credentialing required by law or MDS policy.

Among the services Red Cross volunteers might perform include: basic skills either directly or indirectly for a patient's comfort and well-being, assist departments in administrative aspects of patient care, check patients in for appointments, file medical forms in health records, photocopy materials as needed and more.

According to Bostrom, all volunteers will display the requisite badging and credentials while performing official duties.

Credentialed volunteers will begin service in the Hanscom clinic later this year.

For further information on the program or how to get involved, contact American Red Cross Manager Lynn Levine at 617-274-5233 or Bostrom at 781-225-6304.