ADVERTISEMENT

If you're a healthcare professional that wants to help, here are all the ways you can volunteer across the US

If you're a doctor or a nurse looking for how to help during the COVID-19 pandemic, Business Insider has broken down all the wa ys you can v olunteer.

henry ford hospital coronavirus testing 1
  • You can apply to a staffing agency which gives workers short-term cont racts to work at high coronavirus outbreak hospitals. Business Insider previously reported that some agencies have been o ffering volunteer nurses more than $5,000 a week .
  • States, cities, and the federal government have their own volunteer registries.
  • If you're a healthcare worker with information on staffing during the novel coronavirus outbreak, email aakhtar@businessinsider.com.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .
ADVERTISEMENT

Many public health experts have been worried about an imminent hospital staffing issue amid the coronavirus pandemic .

Andy Slavitt, an administrator in the Obama administration and cofounder of a public health research group, recently said New York City's greatest challenge in treating coronavirus is finding enough nurses and respiratory therapists. Nurses have told Business Insider they worry they will get sick due to the dire shortage of protective equipment, like masks.

Even when doctors and nurses are rushing to places like New York to help fight coronavirus, hospitals are running into confusion and bottlenecks when they try to organize volunteers, The New York Times reports . New York state, city, and individual hospitals all have separate volunteer websites for interested workers.

ADVERTISEMENT

Staffing agencies, which typically supply hospitals with short-term contract workers, have better infrastructure to place volunteers and they're offering nurses $5,000 a week to go to COVID-19 outbreak zones . But many volunteer workers told the Times they feel uncomfortable accepting the thousand dollar rates .

If you're a healthcare worker looking for the best way to volunteer, Business Insider broke down all the ways you can get involved.

Usually, doctors and nurses can only practice in the state in which they received their license. But in this crisis, organizations have adopted new measures to help healthcare workers travel to states with more dire outbreaks.

ADVERTISEMENT

Many state governors have introduced volunteer forms for healthcare workers looking to work in high-outbreak states like New York, New Jersey, and California:

ADVERTISEMENT

Federal agencies also have recruiting efforts aimed at healthcare workers willing to treat the coronavirus. The Medical Reserve Corps matches medical volunteers with local community groups on the frontlines of coronavirus. Interested volunteers can learn more on the Medical Reserve Corps website .

The American Medical Association broke down several ways to volunteer as a retired healthcare professional:

  • 30 states have expedited licensing for retired and inactive licensing. To qualify, retired physicians and nurses must not have either a suspended or revoked license. A full list of states with modified license requirements for retired healthcare workers can be found here.
  • Many older doctors might face increased risk if they come into contact with the COVID-19 disease, as the illness has a higher death and hospitalization rate for people above 60 years old. But many schools and health systems are employing seniors to teach or train online.
  • Hospitals in New York City, like Mt. Sinai , have healthcare worker volunteer forms for positions that don't include direct patient care.
  • The AMA recommends reaching out directly to a hospital or school to see if there are volunteer opportunities available online.
ADVERTISEMENT

Many staffing companies that typically employ hospitals and clinics with short-term or contract workers have pivoted to helping travel nurses. These agencies take a cut of the pay hospitals offer.

Aya Healthcare , for instance, told Business Insider that hospitals have increased nurse pay rates based on rapidly increasing demand. Some companies, like IntelyCare , have set up COVID-19 training programs. Other rapid-response staffing companies like Fastaff are helping nurses get licensed to practice outside of their state.

See Also:

ADVERTISEMENT

SEE ALSO: Nurses are making $5,000 a week to go to hard-hit coronavirus-outbreak zones and staffing agencies are cashing in on the new demand

FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Recommended articles

President Ruto's fights for Kenyans to make money from Meta bears victory

President Ruto's fights for Kenyans to make money from Meta bears victory

Coronation Group illuminates the rise of infrastructure investments

Coronation Group illuminates the rise of infrastructure investments

Nigeria is among the top 15 nations in the world shaping AI and Crypto landscape in 2024

Nigeria is among the top 15 nations in the world shaping AI and Crypto landscape in 2024

US top treasury official stresses America's ambitions for Africa’s metal resources

US top treasury official stresses America's ambitions for Africa’s metal resources

Fuel cost in Nigeria is set to come down in the coming month

Fuel cost in Nigeria is set to come down in the coming month

Ethiopia's largest bank hit by glitch, customers withdraw millions

Ethiopia's largest bank hit by glitch, customers withdraw millions

Mauritius and Seychelles are the only African countries eligible for visa on arrival to the UAE

Mauritius and Seychelles are the only African countries eligible for visa on arrival to the UAE

Nigerian court orders Binance to release data to anti graft agency amidst terrorism financing probe

Nigerian court orders Binance to release data to anti graft agency amidst terrorism financing probe

An outlook of Q-commerce in Nigeria, what to expect in 2024

An outlook of Q-commerce in Nigeria, what to expect in 2024

ADVERTISEMENT