Creating a Patient Experience

They don't have certifications, licenses, and letters after their names - but what they do have is TIME. Volunteers - even those who have worked as paid healthcare workers- by sheer nature of their alturistic, community, other-oriented role, are in the most unique position in the hospital environment. They can choose to let of other tasks to simply sit with an anxious patient, answer the questions of an out-of-town visitor, or physically accompany a visitor to a hard to find destination. That outpouring of time is a special and rare commodity in the past-paced driven environment of healthcare. Hospitals are full of tasks that need to be done in a timely manner - volunteers can step back from that to simply focus on the people. Volunteers can help to shape a patient or visitor's experience. Research shows us that making people feel good (relatively speaking at the hospital, of course) goes way beyond simply creating a nice experience, but actually is related to concrete outcomes benefitting patient outcomes. Volunteers really do make difference!

Kudo for the Email-a-Patient Service

Hello,

My husband is currently a patient in your hospital, he’s been there since the 8^th of this month. I have a lot of good things to say about his care, however, I would like to comment that I think your patient e-mail service is absolutely the best thing I’ve seen in a long time. I know for a fact it has become a most positive factor in his recovery. You’ve made it very simple for friends and family to make contact, and put a smile on his face on a daily basis. Kudos to whoever put this process into place.

Thank you very, very much.

Karen Vierra

Thankfulness for Volunteers is Not Limited to Just One Week, One Day

This week is National Volunteer Week, and tonight is our annual Appreciation Banquet. We have over 200 RSVP's for this evening and I know it will be a lovely, special evening. I am thrilled to see so many staff wanting to share the evening alongside the volunteers who so selflessly serve our hospital. I am enthused to be able to offer an evening of a nice dinner in a beautiful place as a way to say "Thank You!" for the many, many hours that are given.
But let's not ever believe that the appreciation and thankfulness of volunteers is limited to one week or one swanky dinner - those are just visible times to take pause and express to our volunteers how very much they are valued by Enloe Medical Center. Everyday of every week is a time to thank a volunteer, but it is of utmost importance to take time out of our normal busy routines to make thanking volunteers a primary focus.
-Roseanna Galindo-Kuhn
Director, Volunteer Services

For all you do!

The service of a volunteer is priceless, I think of the age old statement 'How can I count the ways'.

Not only do they serve Enloe in a most needed way, but the remnant they leave on many of our personal lives is with out question valuable. They let us know that when we grow up-up, I am still of value, their words of kindness, joy experience and wisdom is as I stated countless. And for the very young who serve us, it is nothing short of a delight to see them being joyfully involved, it gives me a sense of security that we in the future will still have compassion in the medical world.

Thank you - Thank you - Thank you

Lynn A. M. :0D
* Secretary*
3rd Floor Med Surg

Lifeline Team Outstanding!!

Our team of Lifeline Volunteers is amazing. They donate their time, automobiles (and $$ GAS $$) freely to our Lifeline subscribers and are a huge reason that we are able to keep our rates so low. They routinely give up their Fridays to perform installations, troubleshooting, battery changes, pick-ups, etc. etc. to support the program that helps protect elderly and fragile members of Chico and surrounding communities in 3 counties!

The guys all have such great attitudes and really enjoy the time they get to spend with the Lifeline clients every week.

Thanks guys for all you do for us and our community, you're great members of our EMS Team!!

Bob K., RN, MICN

Mgr, EMS Communications and

Emergency Preparedness

Enloe Rehab Center Volunteers

Enloe Rehab Center Volunteers

Our volunteers brighten everyone’s day, especially mine! They smile when they greet you! They say warm, thoughtful, caring words. Their presence makes Rehab a better place; our staff and patients alike benefit from their work here. I am so honored to enjoy the company of these truly generous and giving souls. You are very special. Thank you so much for all that you do!

Brenda L.
Rehab Therapy Manager
Enloe Rehabilitation Center

ER Volunteers :>)

It takes a special person to be able to give of themselves in such a caring and compassionate manner as our Enloe Volunteers do. The Emergency Department staff are particularly proud of our dedicated volunteers. We appreciate that these great individuals, Raynor, Margaret, Betty, MaryLou, Gerry, Joan & Donna. choose to spend their precious time in our crazy, busy ER. You make Enloe a better place, because you are here.

Thank you,
Alivia S., RN
Nurse Manager, Emergency Services

Alberta Simic Rocks!

Marketing & Communications is so appreciative of our volunteer, Alberta Simic. She is always upbeat and willing to help us in the office. Alberta not only lends a hand with various projects, but she is also a wealth of information to help us network with the community. We truly appreciate her willingness to share her time to help our department out weekly. Thank you!!!

Sharon C.

Enloe Medical Center
Marketing & Communications

Volunteers are Great

I am amazed at how many things the volunteer do and how hard they work. I am happy to have them on our team. It gives me a very reassuring sense that there is a community out there that supports us.

Thanks for everything!

Mark C., RN
Administrative Supervisor &
Clinical Educator

Together Everyone Achieves More

Thank you to our volunteers

Not long ago I was talking with a patient's family member who was waiting in our main waiting room to talk with the surgeon. One of our volunteers came up, introduced herself, and let the patient's family member know that she would be checking with them every 30 minutes until the patient was taken to her room on one of the Med/surg floors. Her reassurance put the family member at ease, and her professional demeanor showed her compassion and I was able to leave the family member in good hands and get back to my other patients.

Our volunteers provide the "Human Touch" so necessary to anxious family members as well as our patients. Another encounter I recently had with the volunteers was to ask that they track down our extra large recliners and return to the 3rd floor for one of our patients. They apologized that they were busy at the moment, but that the next shift could track down the equipment and return it as requested. The next day I found both lost recliners in their proper place. Our volunteers ROCK! My Mother gave me a refrigerator magnet that stated:

"Volunteers aren't paid for their work, because they are INVALUABLE!" (Must have been written about our volunteers at Enloe).

Kathy H, RN, ONC,, CBN
Program Coordinator

Cancer Center Volunteers

The areas that I manage wouldn't be even half as great without all of our awesome volunteers. They are loving to the patients, the staff and one another and it is a daily reminder that angels do walk amongst us! I have to admit, I don't know that I could make it thru a week without all that they do. Thanks more than you know.

Nancy L.,RN, BSN, OCN
Director Oncology, Hospice & Integrative Services
Enloe Cancer Center

Rehabiliation Center Volunteers

I wish to share my thoughts of gratitude for our volunteers. We have been fortunate to have several Enloe volunteers at Rehab that give time, comfort, and conversation to our patients. They extend a helping hand, share a friendly smile, and speak words of encouragement. Some water the patient's flowers, some play the piano and sing, some deliver reading material, some help with clerical support, some help decorate, and some help with patient activities. These simple gestures of kindness have great impact on our patients. The volunteers that give of themselves and their time are deeply appreciated.

Maxine Holvik

Maxine is a great volunteer for ESPAA. She is the first step in our process of readiness for surgical patients. She shows up never fail. There are those times when we forget to order all the forms she needs and shes like not a problem I can come back tomorrow or when they show up. She is so flexible, always always with a smile on her face. She had an awesome sense of humor. We are so very lucky to have her as a helper.

Natalie

ESPAA Supervisor

Volunteer Appreciation from ESPAA

Enloe Volunteer, Maxine H., has been a huge help to our department. Maxine comes in on a regular basis and has taken charge of preparing our ESPAA patient's surgery charts. Maxine is always cheerful and pleasant when she is here. She is a quick learner and keeps me informed when she is running low on chart supplies. We at ESPAA appreciate Maxine's dedication and hard work!

Pam F., RN, BSN

ESPAA Charge Nurse

Enloe Surgical and Procedural Assessment Area

Enloe Volunteers

Where to begin…Enloe volunteers are the best! Here in the Mother & Baby Care Center, the volunteers assist us to meet our vision in the inpatient and outpatient settings. They make Enloe birth certificates, greet and transport patients upon discharge, compile "packs" of papers for patient admissions and generally assist our staff to ensure the unit runs smoothly. Their smiling faces and willing attitudes make it a joy to have them as part of our team. Thank-you to all for your hard work and dedication to the childbearing families in our community!

Tracy, MN, RNc
Nurse Manager, Mother & Baby Care Center

Volunteers at Enloe

I am humbled by the gestures of kindness, caring and respect I see displayed by the Enloe volunteers each and every time I enter the main lobby, the Emergency Department waiting area, the gift shop, or any and every corner of the hospital. Volunteers go quietly about their mission of caring and continually add to my sense of appreciation for all that they do and are..

Like Family

For the past year and a half, as Secretary of the Volunteer Services department, I have truly been one of the luckiest employees here at Enloe. During this time, I have had the opportunity to work with the most generous, compassionate and incredible group of people I’ve ever known. On a daily basis, I witness volunteers engaging in some of the most heartwarming interactions with patients, visitors and medical staff alike. I have seen many people consistently go above and beyond in an attempt to make things easier and more comfortable for others. Every day, I’m blown away by the tireless and compassionate efforts. Not only am I lucky enough to be able to witness these interactions, but I also have the pleasure of being able to interact with our volunteers directly. From my first day on the job, I have been made to feel welcome, appreciated and supported. You, the Enloe Volunteers, have become like family to me.

So I want to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU, not only for your generosity and compassion toward patients, visitors and medical staff, but toward me as well. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!

Heather

Secretary, Volunteer Services