THE HOSPITAL WELCOMES ADULT AND TEEN VOLUNTEERS IN NEARLY EVERY DEPARTMENT.
The Volunteer Services Department supports hospital operations and patient services by matching volunteer interests and strengths with the many opportunities available throughout the hospital.
Not only does the hospital benefit from the good work of the volunteers, but the volunteers themselves attain a sense of satisfaction of providing a muchneeded service to a grateful organization in their community. There is pride and accomplishment in sharing one's time. Our volunteers are critical to the day-to-day operations at the hospital. They help solve problems and are often found to be the solution.
The Corporation for National and Community Service states that there is a strong relationship between volunteering and individual health.
"Those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer."
If you are interested in learning more about the available volunteer opportunities, please call the Volunteer Office at 610.431.5191 for an appointment.
VOLUNTEERISM EXAMPLES
WITHIN THE HOSPITAL
Behavioral Health
Director of Emergency Services Betty Brennan, EdD, MSN, RN, CEN, is the organizer and facilitator of quarterly regional meetings in community behavioral health for Chester County Mental Health and Drug/Alcohol Community Services. The purpose of these meetings is to bring together multi-disciplinary, multi-agency, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, emergency departments and other agencies within the county that service and provide care for behavioral health patients. Through shared agendas, initiatives and forums for discussion in these meetings, a cohesive and collaborative plan of care for the community behavioral health needs was created. Brennan voluntarily contacted everyone individually first to gauge and encourage attendance and distributed a survey to develop a list of topics for the group. The hospital supports Brennan in her community service by providing the room for the meetings, nourishment and technology support. For her work, Brennan received the 2013 Healthcare Heroes Award by Main Line Today in the category of community service for establishing a behavioral health program for patients in conjunction with other health care organizations and behavioral health facilities in Chester County.
IN OUR COMMUNITY
Community Volunteers in Medicine
Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM) is a community-based, volunteer nonprofit organization providing primary medical and dental care to low income, working Chester County residents without insurance, enabling them to continue to be contributing members of the community. The program is designed to provide services for those individuals whose income is at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty guidelines and are not eligible for Medical Assistance, Medicare, VA benefits or the Children's Health Insurance Program. Numerous clinical practices and private physicians on the Medical Staff of Chester County Hospital have been generously providing free or reduced-fee services to CVIM participants.
- Chester County Eye Care Associates
- Chester County Hematology Oncology Services*
- Community Radiology Associates of the University of Pennsylvania
- Ear, Nose and Throat Associates of Chester County
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of Chester County
- Surgical Specialists, P.C.
- Turk's Head Surgery Center
- Urology Center of Chester County
- West Chester Endoscopy
- West Chester Gastrointestinal Group
- Women's Specialty Center*
* Hospital-employed physicians
BEYOND THE COUNTY
Super Storm Sandy Rebuilding
Pamela Conner, BSN, RN, CMSRN, participated in a seven-day mission trip to Buckhannon, WV, sponsored by the Hopewell United Methodist Church. In July, she volunteered time to the Hopewell United Methodist Church's Student Ministries. During the week, a group of 20 adult leaders and approximately 40 high school students traveled to Buckhannon to assist local residents that were still recovering from Super Storm Sandy in October 2012. Conner and her students worked with a disabled couple to help repair damages to their home. She and her group built a handicap ramp from the porch of this couple's home to enable the wheelchair-bound homeowner easier access. The group repaired damages to the roof and extended the roof to cover the deck and newly constructed handicap ramp. Conner not only served as an adult leader and worker, but she served as the nurse for the group as well. Conner was in charge of all the medications that the students brought with them, and also performed first aid to injured workers as needed.