Page 36 - April 2017 Newspaper

Cover Story: Volunteers at Heart of Patient Experience at Broward

Health Medical Center and Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital

Continued from page 1
South Florida's
Monthly
Healthcare Newspaper

PO Box 812708
Boca Raton, FL 33481-2708
Phone: (561) 368-6950

Website:
www.southfloridahospitalnews.com

CHARLES FELIX
CAROL FELIX
Publishers Auxiliary Induction at Broward Health Medical Center: (Back row l-r) Angela Meridionale, Judy
Ashley Thomas organizes the
Seiler, Judy Boles, Nancy Weber, Harve Brosten, Allan Ross, Mark Sprada, CEO, Broward Health
Clothing Closet donations
NANCY LAMMIE Medical Center (Front Row l-r) Laura Palazzo, Cristina Pudwell, Rozen Patterson
Editor from the community.
JUDY GRAMM
Editorial Manager & Webmaster
JMC GRAPHICS
Art/Production
adsjmcgraphics@aol.com
412-835-5796

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Lisa Bianco
Daniel Casciato
Vanessa Orr
Lois Thomson
Nancy Weber, Auxiliary President, and Hilda Lambert sell used Harve Brosten delivers mail to Suad Sajovic,
books and magazines to raise money for BHMC.. Auxiliary Operations Manager
LOOK FOR OUR
NEXT ISSUE
Approximately 120 volunteers work in areas across the hos- is its retirees, who selflessly give of their time. “These stalwart
IN MAY pital, doing everything from checking guests in to escorting folks keep us going,” said Hilda Lambert, 99, who has been vol-
family members to patient rooms. Some of them visit patients, unteering at Broward Health Medical Center for the past 15
TO REACH US distributing magazines, books and snacks; others keep family years.
FOR members abreast of a patient’s progress after a procedure. “Every week, they come in and do their jobs, and it’s an inspi-
“Our volunteers are involved in a huge host of activities, and ration,” she added.
ADVERTISING
people are often surprised to find they are giving their time Lambert moved from the West Coast to the East Coast to be
OR EDITORIAL without pay to serve in this most special of ways,” said Nancy nearer to her daughter, and found that she was bored once she
Call (561) 368-6950 Weber, president, Broward Health Medical Center Auxiliary. retired. “My neighbor was in the auxiliary and told me to vol-
“Our gift shop, for example, which is the auxiliary’s primary unteer, and I love it,” she said. “I’ve met a lot of nice people
or e-mail source of income, is open seven days a week and is staffed who talk to me about their aches and pains, and I listen. They
carol@southfloridahospitalnews.com almost solely by volunteers.” hug me and thank me, and call me their angel.”
Broward’s volunteer program was started in 1952, and has As the regional manager for Customer Service, Patient
recently been revamped to ensure that everyone involved, Experience and Volunteer Services at Broward, Angela
including the volunteers themselves, have a positive experi- Meridionale is responsible for the initial volunteer orientation,
SUBSCRIPTIONS
ence. Improvements to the program include additional train- as well as ensuring that Joint Commission requirements are
One Year $40 ing, as well as assessing the areas of volunteer opportunities met.
throughout the facility. Volunteers come from a number of dif- “A great partnership exists with the adult auxiliary who pro-
Two Years $60 ferent backgrounds, and include students, retirees and even vide a mentoring program for our student volunteers and
Three Years $75 snowbirds, who work at the hospital during the months they demonstrate how things are done,” said Meridionale. “Some
live in the state. volunteers also round with the team on the adult inpatient
“We have a number of volunteers who we see only from units. What they do directly impacts the patient experience,
To subscribe, January to May,” said Weber. “Every year they come back, and whether delivering magazines and books to patients, maintain-
call (561) 368-6950 we’re happy when they get here. We miss them while they’re ing our clothing closet for patients in need, or helping the staff
or subscribe online at gone.” on the floor.”
High school and college students make up a good portion of While staff and patients certainly benefit from these efforts,
southfloridahospitalnews.com. the hospital’s volunteers and come from schools throughout so do the volunteers. “I’ve had student volunteers tell me that
____________ South Florida. And while students from a number of different they aren’t comfortable talking to people, and yet as members
schools participate, one unique group tends to make a very of our wayfinding program, they learn to engage with people as
All rights reserved. Reproduction long-lasting impression. they escort them around the hospital,” Meridionale added.
in whole or part without written “I work at Fort Lauderdale High School, and our volunteer “And students not only fulfill their mandatory volunteer hours,
permission prohibited. Copyright © 2016.
work program, which is directed by Justin Willard, involves but build resumes, gain life skills and have experiences that
autistic students,” explained Harve Brosten, who also serves as enhance their college applications.”
third vice president of the Broward Health Medical Center In 2016, the auxiliary also created a scholarship program that
Auxiliary. “Many of our students start as volunteers here, but go provides two $1,500 scholarships each year to high school sen-
on to work here permanently. iors who are the children of employees or volunteers at
“Right now we have nine students in the program, who help Broward Health Medical Center.
Broward is always looking for more volunteers, and those
Don’t forget to include deliver packages and maintain the cafeteria, among other considering donating their time to help others can learn more
things,” he added. “It’s tremendously rewarding for our stu-
South Florida Hospital News dents when they end up getting a job here; and we’re very at www.browardhealth.org/pages/volunteer-opportunities.
“Our goal is to ensure the patient experience stays at the fore-
& Healthcare Report proud that many of our students have gone on to become front of everything we do, and volunteers are essential to meet-
employed at Broward Health.”
in your Marketing Plans According to Weber, the backbone of the volunteer program ing that goal,” said Meridionale.
Call Charles at 561-368-6950 for a Media Kit

36 April 2017 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News