AHVRP Highlights
This program is designed to educate high school students on how to take care of personal/family illnesses and/or injuries. This program, taught by volunteers and employees including the Senior VP/CEO, helps to improve the quality of care provided at home, the quality of communication between the students and their health care professionals, and the student’s ability to make wise healthcare decisions. While increasing the public’s understanding of the roles of the auxilians/volunteers, it provides true to life scenarios, reaches a large group, has potential for lifetime results, and can easily be implemented by many other hospitals.
IN-SERVICE HOSPITAL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
Language Bridge Project
Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA
The Language Bridge Program addresses the needs of a growing immigrant population in the health care setting. This program uses a simple tool to address a complex problem. Started by a volunteer who developed the first “English in the Hospital” point-to-talk book to aid Spanish-speaking patients and their caregivers has now expanded to twenty different world languages. This program increases the comfort level for patients and serves as a benefit to the community through effective outreach “bridging” communication gaps. The program is adaptable to any size hospital or auxiliary and is inexpensive which is important because cost is always a key factor in volunteer budgets.
FUND-RAISING PROGRAM
Kid For A Night (KFAN)
St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center Boise, ID
Developed by volunteers in the community, this program with its most unique approach raises funds to improve the health of the children in its region. Over nine years, KFAN has raised over $1.5 million for Children’s Hospital, funding projects for Pediatrics, PICU, NICU, outpatient oncology, and specialty services. Each year, a team of committed volunteers develops the event theme, activities, invitation, and general kid inspired fun that makes Kids For A Night unique. In addition, they raise funds from corporations, secure hundreds of silent auction items and recruit 80+ event night volunteers from local companies.
This program makes the hospital visible and gives individuals in the community an opportunity to do short-term volunteer projects. Because of its successes, KFAN is enjoying high donor loyalty and nets about 75% (over the past five years) to fund children’s hospital needs.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND/OR COLLABORATION
Free Mammogram /Bone Density Program
Williamsburg Community Hospital Auxiliary Williamsburg, VA
Recognizing that mammograms provide one of the best chances of early detection of breast cancer and that many uninsured individuals are unable to pay for them, this hospital auxiliary addressed the challenge of providing this necessary preventative health care option to the uninsured members of their community. This innovative program was designed, initiated, managed and has been financed 100% through fund-raisers by the hospital auxiliary since 1998. Initially only offering free mammograms for the under privileged, the program has expanded and now includes additional views and/or ultrasounds and free bone density screening also for the uninsured community members at risk for osteoporosis. This program displays a tremendous community outreach effort, provides volunteers much opportunity for involvement, and can be easily adapted by any size hospital or auxiliary.
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