Hundreds Needed To Staff Delco Federal Medical Station

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — As many as 700 volunteers are needed to support the federal medical station in Glen Mills being set up in response to the outbreak of new coronavirus, known as COVID-19.

An Alternative Care Site at the Glen Mills School is being set up by members of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, National Guard and the Delaware County Department of Emergency Services will serve as a medical facility specifically for patients who have not tested positive for COVID-19, but are being treated for low-acuity conditions at regional hospitals, in the event that a hospital is full treating COVID-19 patients.

The Alternative Care Site will be staffed by professionals from participating Health Care Systems and supported by volunteers from across the region.

>>>RELATED: 5th Coronavirus Victim Dies In Delaware County; 42 New Cases<<<

There is an urgent need for volunteers including:

• Active and retired medical and healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists and veterinarians
• Medical and nursing students
• Behavioral Health professionals
• Support, Administrative and Logistic Staff
• Citizen Corps of Delaware County. Learn more about the citizen corps here.

Volunteers will be providing patient care for patients with low-acuity conditions from regional hospitals.

The site will not be used to treat patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Sign up to volunteer with the Citizen Corps of Delaware County online here.

Residents or organizations who would like to donate protective and medical supplies and equipment and also in-kind donations can call 1-800-253-3102 or email EOC@DelcoDES.org.

"There is a critical need for volunteers to serve their community as we face this pandemic together," said Delaware County Council Chairman Brian Zidek. "We are fortunate to a have a safe location for our family members, friends and neighbors to go, where they can receive medical care in the event that our hospitals become over-run with COVID-19 emergencies. There has been a great deal of collaboration to bring this facility to Delaware County and now we are leaning on our community to come together and volunteer."

Residents can serve their community during a very critical time.

This is a global pandemic and America has had the opportunity to learn from other countries and act swiftly on measures to mitigate the virus and protect Americans.

Other countries have been successful in utilizing hundreds of thousands of volunteers in their efforts to fight COVD-19. Countries with a robust volunteer response have had success in flattening the curve and controlling the virus.

"During this unprecedented challenge, we need residents to step-up and help where they can," Zidek said. "We are all impacted by COVID-19 and we need to work together and fight this together. Many residents have been asking how they can help. This is your chance. This is an opportunity to serve your community when the need is great."