Starting Clinical Volunteer Program

[erikreinertsen]

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Hey everybody,

Myself and some fellow undergrads are trying to start a clinical volunteer program at UCLA for qualified EMS professionals (at least EMT-B license required). We'd function primarily in the Santa Monica ER, and have a mutual relationship with the UCLA Center for Prehospital Care.

I'm trying to provide an organized, professional framework to recreate the same great clinical experiences I had when obtaining my EMT-B license. I did a few shifts at the ER doing triage, patient histories, and basic wound care and it was awesome.

I've already met and talked to several UCLAMed staff and am aware of the significant legal and logistical hurdles lying ahead. I wanted to ask if anybody has experience starting organizations from scratch (especially volunteer / clinical). Any advice or tips?

Thanks!

 

[URHere]

Because you are a group of undergraduates, you need to tackle the hurdle of malpractice insurance from the get go. Medical students are covered at all times by their schools, but you'll need to talk to the hospital to determine how much it would cost for your volunteers to cover themselves.

At my school, it costs $60 for medical students during the summer term, but I imagine the price would be a little bit steeper for an undergraduate.