An inaugural group of teens spent their summers helping patients and staff at a local hospital.
Johnson Memorial Hospital opened up its volunteer program to teens aged 14-18 this summer on a pilot basis. Now, they are ready to fully implement the program.
About a dozen teens from Johnson County participated in the program this summer, mostly volunteering at the front desk, where they welcomed patients, informed them about COVID-19 protocols such as taking their temperatures and directed them to where they needed to go for their appointments.
Students of all ages can volunteer in the gift shop, and students 16 and older may assist in the emergency room if they’re up to the challenge.
The goal of the program is to introduce teens to careers in health care, while also improving customer service and helping put patients at ease from the moment they enter the hospital, said Dr. David Dunkle, president and CEO.
Since the hospital opened its new entrance and emergency room to the public in the midst of the pandemic, many are still seeing it for the first time. Being unfamiliar with the new layout combined with anxiety over an illness or pending test can be taxing, Dunkle said.
It is the job of the young volunteers to lift patients’ spirits with a reassuring smile and directions to their destinations, he said.
“We thought this would be a great opportunity to try expanding the purple polo greeters and give students who are excited about a career in health care a chance to learn at the hospital,” Dunkle said.
The teen volunteers helped fill a gap over the summer, as some elderly and more at-risk volunteers are still hesitant to return, said Beth Ross, the hospital’s volunteer coordinator.
To join the program, teens should be in good academic standing and have spare time during the day, after school or on the weekends, Ross said.
Whether looking to explore a health care career or just wanting to help people, students learned a lot from volunteering this summer, she said.
“Every single interview people say, ‘I just want to help people,’ and then it becomes, ‘I am exploring opportunities in the health care (field),’” Ross said. “A lot of them are also just pleased to be on the frontlines of hospitality.”
Anna Puderbaugh, a pre-med student from Greenwood, is taking that knowledge back to campus this fall at University of Kentucky as she continues her path toward a medical career.
“It has been great to get to interact with all kinds of people from all different walks of life. That’s something I’ve never really gotten to do before. I think it is a great way to give back and to get to know people,” Puderbaugh said.
Tessia Long, a junior at Edinburgh Community High School, came to the program to learn more about working at a hospital as she prepares for a career in nursing.
“I learned how hospitals work from the staff side. It has been cool to see that. I worked at the main entrance so I greeted patients and told them where to go. It was fun,” Long said.
Adult volunteers are also needed, especially now as students head back to school. Volunteers of all ages who can work four-hour shifts between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. any day of the week are needed, Ross said.
Being a volunteer has its perks, including access to the employee gym, a meal during each shift, discounted event tickets and free hospital gear, she said.
“It isn’t going to interrupt your life. It will enhance it.” Ross said.
To fill out an application to volunteer, visit johnsonmemorial.org/volunteer. Each volunteer goes through an interview process and receives training before their first shift.
