Operations Unit Deputy
This is usually a member who has a basic knowledge of Medical and Health services (not necessarily someone with a Medical Degree).
They can be identified by the RED vest they are wearing
The Operations Unit Deputy
- Griage – Greet those who come to the POD.
- Medical Screening – Ask questions to determine if there may be any harmful reactions to the medications or vaccines being dispensed.
- Education – Distribute information regarding the drug for which the patient has been cleared by the Medical Screener.
- Dispensing/Vaccination – Distribute medication for which the patient has been cleared by the Medical Screener.
- Pharmacy/Medical Consult – May be on site for medical consultation. If they are not on site you will be given a phone number that can be distributed for Medical Consult.
Griage staff typically are given a process to separate patients into smaller lines/groups at the door. This could be line monitoring, a simple set of questions, or even a short description of the POD process for the patients. This is the POD’s front-line staff - they should be congenial, polite, and assertive to the overall goal.
Medical Screening staff are given standard questions to ask patients with the end goal of determining which of the medications being distributed is the correct one for them. If there is only one kind of medication or vaccine to use, their main purpose is to identify patients who may be advised NOT to take the medication or who need further medical consultation.
Education staff are given handouts and basic information about the medication(s). As long as the person has already been cleared for the drug, the Education staff will give them information about the medication or vaccine they are to receive.
Dispensing and/or Vaccination staff will be looking for an indicator (sticker, signature, checkmark, etc.) that a person has been properly screened and educated about the medication and will then provide them with a bottle of pills or give them a shot.
Pharmacy and or Medical Consult staff are specialists who are on staff to answer questions about prescriptions or health conditions which may interact with the medication/vaccine being dispensed. If there are not enough specialists available to send to every POD location you may be given a phone number that patients can call for more information.