Many hands make light work

Jay FitzOur Town Health, West Knox County

Volunteers at Parkwest Medical Center assist the hospital in many ways, such as escorting patients and visitors to their destina­tions and serving as support persons for visitors, staff and physicians, as well as patients and their families. Volunteering is also a way to socialize and create new friendships that continue into retirement.

National Volunteer Week was April 17-23, 2022. At Parkwest, 90 individuals serve as volunteers in a variety of areas. Despite the ongoing challenges of Covid-19, volunteers have continued to show up with cheerful attitudes.

“When Covid first came to be, we had to look differently at how we de­ploy our volunteers,” said Becky Boyd, volunteer and consumer relations manag­er at Parkwest. “With fewer volunteers, we had to ask those who were here to have more proactive roles.”

For example, infor­mation desk volunteers served as greeters, en­hancing their ability to answer patients’ questions and give directions.

“Many hands make light work,” said Boyd. “We had some volunteers change roles or pick up extra shifts, doing everything they could to help out.”

Although masks must be worn in the hospital, Boyd says, “We can’t mask our gratitude for our volun­teers over the past couple of years.”

Meet a Few of the Volunteers

Married couple Kay and Bob Eversole have each been volunteering at Parkwest for three years, in the critical care unit and pro­cedural care unit, respectively. They assist patients and their families by giving directions, explaining Park­west visitation guidelines and offering support. While they vol­unteer on sepa­rate days of the week and in dif­ferent units, they share a positive sentiment about volunteering.

“One of the things I love about volunteering is be­ing able to touch the lives of peo­ple,” Kay says. “Most times in your day-to-day life you don’t get that opportunity, and it can be as simple as a smile, hug or pat on the back.”

Bob concurs, adding, “If you’ve got extra time, it’s very satisfying to volunteer. You get the sense of being helpful and doing something that needs to be done while feeling appre­ciated and enjoying social interaction.”

Karen Helton, community volunteer, delivers snacks.

Community volunteer Kar­en Helton also wanted to support healthcare work­ers to the best of her ability. When the Delta variant of Covid-19 be­gan raging across the country in the summer of 2021, she wanted the healthcare workers at Parkwest to know the community sup­ported them and was grate­ful for their efforts. She be­gan purchasing snacks and delivering them to Park­west weekly, treating two to four departments each visit. Now she is delivering treats only for holidays and special occasions, but is grateful to be a bright light to those giving so much of themselves.

Lytle Brown M.D. has also found social interac­tion to be one of the joys of volunteering during his retirement. After practic­ing as a general surgeon at Parkwest for more than 30 years, he gets the unique opportunity to see his for­mer patients and coworkers while he volunteers in the surgery waiting room.

“Volunteers set a different tone for people coming to the hospital. They can change the pa­tient’s perception of their experience,” Dr. Brown says. “All of the volun­teers at Parkwest are excellent am­bassadors and are exceptionally good at what they do.”

Volunteer Jackie Hender­son, who still works full time, has spent the last 11 years assisting patients and staff in registration. “A huge aspect of volunteering is to support staff and take some of their load away,” Henderson says. Helping escort patients to vari­ous locations or assisting patients at the registration kiosk frees staff members to assist the next patient.

College and Career Readiness

College student Jack Nadaud plans to start medical school this fall. He currently volunteers in Parkwest’s Emergency Depart­ment helping staff with intake, moving patients, stocking supplies and making sure the patients are comfortable. He has helped during the pandemic, and gained practical experience and knowledge in the process.

“Volunteering is an awesome way to get experience,” Na­daud says. “It’s different than shadowing a doctor or work­ing in an outpatient setting. You are often behind-the-scenes and assist directly in a department with patients and staff.”

College students interested in volunteering in the Emer­gency Department must be 18 years or older and be able to commit to at least one four-hour shift per week for six months.

Volunteer Today

In recognition of Nation­al Volunteer Week, Park­west shares appreciation for all the volunteers and their flexibility in serving in new roles and ever-changing conditions. Their commit­ment and compassion to­ward patients, staff and the community go a long way in showing kindness and care in many areas through­out the hospital.

If you’re interested in volunteering, including filling new roles such as greeters at the main en­trance, Dogwood Surgery Entrance and the breast center, visit www.treatedWell.com/Volunteers for more information.

Information provided by Covenant Health

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