Volunteers

Volunteers provide various types of assistance to the unit manager, nurses and doctors as requested. Duties include:

• Greeting patients as they arrive
• Relaying information on patient condition to visitors
• Crowd control
• Making beds
• Replenishing charts
• Making photocopies
• Taking patients to the desk upon release
• Moving patients to physical therapy or Patient Care Unit as requested
• Updating families of patients in the waiting room
• Restocking and answering the telephone as needed

Volunteers sell items from the gift shop and replace what they sell from the storeroom. They also notify the hospital’s purchasing department when there are special requests or an item is out of stock. Volunteers are also asked to participate in the annual Holiday Bazaar in November each year.

Volunteers operate from the front desk to greet patients and visitors. They escort those people who are not familiar with the hospital, as well as those who need assistance to the various departments, and they give directional advice. The volunteers tidy the Main Lobby, ED Lobby, and the Same Day Surgery Lobby as needed. Often, the volunteers will serve water, coffee and fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies.

Volunteers work with the nursing staff in the Patient Care Unit, Aspen Birth Center and Intensive Care Unit and have an opportunity to interact with patients. Duties include:

• Accessing limited patient information via computer
• Distributing newspapers
• Refilling water containers
• Providing nourishment as requested
• Helping with meal selections
• Watering plants and restocking bedside drawers
• Replenish refrigerators located in the PCU, ICU, Aspen Birth Center and ED kitchens and assist the kitchen staff when needed

Rehabilitation Services Volunteer has a primary job description of helping in the department as needed. Daily needs in rehab services include:

• Placing sheets on mat tables and pillow cases on pillows
• Cleaning up dirty linens and placing in dirty linen basket
• Returning cold packs to refrigeration unit
• Returning hot packs to heating unit and hanging moist heat covers
• Making sure each treatment room is stocked adequately with linens (towels, face towel, pillow cases and sheets).
• Returning equipment that was used back to its original location
• If workstation-on-wheels batteries are dying, replace with charged battery
• Taking lost individuals to their appropriate location

Volunteers assist the nurses in Same Day Surgery in any capacity needed. The volunteers have direct interaction with patients and almost every department in the hospital. Duties include:

• Transporting patients to and from surgery
• Preparing patient meals
• Greeting patients and helping them change into surgical clothing
• Updating patients’ families on progress
• Restocking and tidying the unit kitchen, waiting room and chemotherapy room
• Compiling charts and generally being available to run errands and perform any other jobs as requested

Share your special talents with the residents of Whitcomb Terrace. We welcome singers, pianists, dancers, actors, storytellers and artists of all types and ages. Participate in programmed activities, or coordinate your own activities for our residents with Whitcomb Terrace supervision. Volunteers provide accompaniment to appointments as well as local events like ballet, theatre and musical concerts. One-on-one chaperones to summer symphony concerts receive valuable complimentary tickets. Assist with decorations and spirit-lifting during any holiday season. Enjoy simple conversation and companionship with a resident over a cup of tea.