Short-term volunteer staffing of a hospital.

We surveyed 136 physicians, nurses, dentists, physician assistants, and other medical professionals who were residents of the United States and had volunteered their professional services for 6 months or less from October 1992 through January 1994 at St. Jude Hospital, a rural hospital on the island of St. Lucia in the southern Caribbean.

More short-term volunteer staffing for public health: an independent policy statement.

This paper is an independent policy statement recommending more short-term volunteer staffing for the US Public Health Service. I propose a Public Health survey of all physicians to determine their willingness to serve short-term, so that those available can be mobilized. Public Health should redirect its recruitment efforts, eliminate bureaucratic hindrances, develop a cadre of generalists and specialists, and designate appropriate organizations that can incorporate existing medical personnel.