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Health care volunteer week under
way
The
Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital volunteer programs are
celebrating National Healthcare Volunteer Week for the 35th consecutive
year.
During the past year, 214 Children’s Hospital volunteers contributed
7,764 hours. In the Medical Center and in the ambulatory clinics, 418
volunteers contributed more than 26,987 hours. Total, volunteers here
have contributed a total of 34,751.4 hours of donated service to the
patients, families and staff of MUSC.
A variety of volunteer opportunities, with a few exceptions, are
available to adults and students over the age of 16 at the Medical
University Hospital, including needs as hospital greeters, in the
recovery room and services for cancer and transplant patients.
Volunteers also are needed to escort patients, provide administrative
support, and patient information services. Other opportunities include
volunteering in the newborn nursery, flower delivery, and special
events and fundraisers at MUSC.
Volunteers assist in occupational therapy; physical therapy;
compounding pharmacy; inpatient and outpatient units and playrooms;
waiting rooms, and the courtesy cart, as well as the Ronald McDonald
Room and Way Finders.
Volunteers in the trauma and emergency room must be at least 21 years
old. The same age restriction applies to volunteers working in special
care and newborn nursery, pediatric intensive care units, and pediatric
ICU.
“MUSC volunteers are key members of our family and critical to our
service delivery. I don’t know what we would do without them,” said
Stuart Smith, Medical Center executive director and vice president of
clinical operations.
Ellen Ruja, nurse manager in the adult emergency department, commented
that volunteering is a way of giving and receiving, and that
volunteers’ assistance helps bolster the effective, quality care at
MUSC.
“When our volunteers work in the emergency department, they give a part
of themselves, their time, energy, skills and feelings,” Ruja said.
“You notice that this is not a one-time experience for them but a
lifelong activity.
“Our volunteers do so much for us. They provide comfort to our patients
either with a kind word, a hug or a warm blanket,” Ruja continued.
“Being a Level 1 trauma center and a tertiary care hospital and located
in a wonderful tourist town, we get people from all over the United
States. They are out of their element and we are strangers to them. Our
volunteers are able to spend time with them and assist them in any way.
Whether it is providing the family members in the waiting rooms with
information, or taking them to the cafeteria to eat or giving them
directions.”
Ruja said that volunteers also assist the emergency department staff
with stocking supplies, cleaning, and running errands.
“If there is a wheelchair to be found in this hospital, they will find
it,” she said. “Some of our volunteers are students and others are
grandmothers. Each brings a special experience and personality to our
department. We would not be able to accomplish our jobs as well as we
do without them.”
Volunteers are found in virtually every aspect of the hospital. John
Parler, atrium coordinator at the Children’s Hospital, said that
volunteers are a great asset to the Children’s Hospital and to the
Child Life Department. “They play a very important role in providing
therapeutic play opportunities for the children,” Parler said. “They
make our job in Child Life a lot easier.”
Volunteers also offer warmth and assistance in the baby unit.
“We love our volunteers,” said Katherine Chase of the neonatal ICU.
“They are that extra set of hands and arms to hold the babies when the
mom can not get in. They are life savers for us in 8SCN. We love to see
them come through the doors. We never want to see them go away. We love
them.”
Then, there are volunteers who help people under enormous stress find
their way. Chris Christopher is one such volunteer in the Way Finder
program.
“Chris Christopher does a superb job as a volunteer in Rutledge Tower,”
said Dave Neff, ambulatory care services administrator. “She promotes
excellence in patient service by welcoming patients; providing
directions and addressing any concerns that they might have. If we
could clone her, we would. She is fantastic.”
Volunteer
programs need your help
National Healthcare Volunteer Day was designed to recognize the support
that volunteers provide to hospital staff, their patients, their family
members and the community. This is the perfect occasion to focus on the
many significant contributions your volunteers make on a daily basis.
The volunteeryear extends from April 1 to March 31 for MUSC’s three
volunteer programs.
To learn more about MUSC’s volunteer programs contact:
- Katy Kuder, manager of MUSC’s Medical Center program, at
792-0858, or e-mail kuderk@musc.edu. Visit
http://www.MUSCHealth.com/volunteer
- Christine Messick, program coordinator at MUSC’s Children’s
Hospital, 792-3120, or e-mail messickc@musc.edu. Visit
http://www.MUSCKids.com/mad/volunteer.htm; and
Friday, April 28, 2006
Catalyst Online is published weekly,
updated
as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public
Relations
for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of
South
Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at
792-4107
or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to
Catalyst
Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to
catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island
papers at 849-1778, ext. 201.
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