ATHOL – The red-and-white “Candy Striper” uniforms may be long gone from Athol Hospital, but the need for volunteers endures.
“We are looking for more people who are going to come in and really be dedicated,” said Diane Coburn, Volunteer Coordinator at Athol Hospital, where currently there are 16 adult volunteers, one student-intern and one student-volunteer from Athol High School, one college student-intern, one student-intern from Quabbin Regional High School starting in December, and three adults who are in the process of becoming volunteers.
There is an 89-year-old who has been an Athol Hospital volunteer for more than 30 years, and another who retired earlier this year after volunteering for the same amount of time. The minimum age required to be a volunteer is 16 with a parent or guardian’s permission.
Coburn said the volunteers are willing to give their time and are happy to help people. Some have expertise that they can apply to their volunteer job, or want to give back because they have had a relatable experience. A volunteer can provide support to someone who is concerned about a hospitalized family member or someone who may have received bad news, or may need help finding their way around the hospital. “Sometimes it’s the smile that greets you at the door when you’re nervous,” she said.
Volunteers come from Athol, surrounding towns and “all walks of life,” Coburn said. Being respectful of others, willing to help all patients and staff, punctual, committed, responsible, willing to “go the extra mile” to help others, and confidentiality are personal characteristics that the hospital seeks in a volunteer. “We want you to treat people the way you want to be treated.”
Areas of the hospital where volunteers are currently serving are in the emergency department, surgical transport, oncology, physical therapy, the gift shop, nutrition, the Swing Bed Unit/Patient Care, and as main lobby greeters.
Coburn said there are shifts available within each department every day of the week, and that they can vary. “Some may come in two different days to do two different things.”
Applications to volunteer at the hospital are available at the front desk, 2033 Main St. For questions, call Diane Coburn at 978-249-1145 or email Diane.Coburn@heywood.org.
Dawn Casavant, Vice President of Development, recently provided updates of two hospital projects that have been in the works. The first coat of blacktop for the expanded parking area next to the Starrett Center for Emergency Care is scheduled to be completed by mid-November. Casavant said once the paving is complete and the parking lines have been painted, the hospital can utilize this area. Saltmarsh Industries, which demolished the Medical Arts Building at the site, is also on the parking lot project.
The new Radiology suite at the site of the former Emergency Room is scheduled for completion by the end of November, Casavant said. Hutter Construction of New Hampshire is doing the work. A date will be set for a ribbon cutting upon the project’s completion.