Johns Hopkins Responds Hurricane Katrina September 2005

Disaster Relief Efforts — FAQ

It is the intent of Johns Hopkins Medicine, including The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Inc., The John Hopkins Home Care Group, Inc, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians, Inc., Johns Hopkins HealthCare LLC and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine to support Hurricane Katrina relief efforts with both clinical and non-clinical volunteers. Those efforts are being led through the Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR).

The following Frequently Asked Questions are to respond to some of the Human Resources concerns:

Will I be paid for my volunteer work as it relates to these relief efforts?
Yes, so long as you are a volunteer with the Johns Hopkins organized relief efforts through CEPAR, you will continue on the regular payroll.

Will I have to use my paid time off (PTO)?
No, so long as you are a volunteer with the Johns Hopkins organized relief efforts you will not need to use your PTO.

Will I be covered for my benefits during my volunteer efforts?
Yes, you will continue with all benefits as long as you are a volunteer with the Johns Hopkins organized relief efforts.

Will malpractice be covered for clinicians?
Yes, again, so long as you are a volunteer with the Johns Hopkins organized relief efforts you will be covered for malpractice.

Will my travel and living expenses be paid?
We do not expect volunteers to pay travel and living expenses. We will work with the relief organizations to determine how your travel and living expenses will be covered.

How will my regular work get done while I am away?
Before volunteering, your supervisor must approve that your workload can be covered while you are away.

What if I want to volunteer with an organization other than Johns Hopkins?
To do this, you will use your PTO or vacation leave. As with any leave, you will need the advance approval of your supervisor. Since you will be on leave, you will want to check with that organization to make sure they have the malpractice coverage or other coverage you will need.

What if I am requested specifically to provide relief efforts but it is not with the Johns Hopkins CEPAR team?
We have had requests for people with specific expertise to be available. We will make a case-by-case decision in those instances.