In this segment of KSMU's Sense of Community Series, Michele Skalicky finds out what it's like to work as a hospital volunteer.
It was a fairly busy morning at the Martin Center, Coxhealth’s imaging facility on S. Fremont, and employees were busy doing their jobs. One man who was instantly visible when you walked in the door was wearing tan slacks, a black sweater and a green jacket. He was there to greet patients as they came in for tests. But he doesn’t get paid for his work. Richard Peterson is a volunteer at Coxhealth.
He says he was retired from a long career in the commercial insurance industry, his grandkids were in school and he was looking for something to do with his free time.
"You can't stay at home. You can only wash so many windows, wash the car and wax it so many times, vacuum the carpet. You have to get out and do something," he said.
He showed me around the Martin Center lobby.
"Here's the wheelchairs we have. We get wheelchairs if people come in--they may be on crutches, they may have some type of leg brace on or another person with a cane or carrying oxygen. We ask them if they need a wheelchair," he said.
Peterson works three four-hour shifts each week. His work day starts at 10 am and ends at 2 pm. And he loves his job.
"Oh, you see the people. Of course, people are great. The big thing is there's people that need help, they need wheelchairs or they need assistance, and just helping your neighbor. That's the reason--and a smile on your face," he said.
Peterson’s main job is to escort patients to booths at the Martin Center so they can finish their registration.
"After that I've been asked to make sure the wheelchairs are wiped down after they're being used--at least once a day. We wipe down anything that people's hands touch like the buttons to the elevator, pushing the doors open, the buttons to the doors, the water fountains and things, you know, to cut down. This is the flu season and that helps out and then and then there's another volunteer--the arm bands...have to be torn apart, and we put 'em in a drawer so the people doing the administration work have those bands ready," he said.
He says, while there are employees paid to handle the minor things, they might not be readily available when a need surfaces.
"Yes, we do have environmental service, but the person could be up on the third floor, you know, doing something. Well, you have spill. We can't have the spill going all over the place, so you do the best you can," he said.
He says it might not sound like much, but it really helps out the paid employees.
"So they don't have to take time out of their day--their busy day--these things. It's just the little things, but they all add up," he said.
Peterson says the employees at the Martin Center call him one of their own.
"We're away from the hospital, but we're a family," he said.
He describes what he likes best about his volunteer position.
"The very best part of it is actually just being out and being able to still help people and still be helpful in society," he said.
Perhaps tied with the feeling of being able to make a difference is the chance to help fellow veterans.
"You thank them for their service. Very few people thank them," he said.
And he sometimes helps reassure patients who might be nervous about a procedure they’re about to have.
Peterson is one of many Coxhealth volunteers who do a variety of jobs within the healthcare system. They work the gift shop, staff the information desks, visit with families in the critical care area, escort patients to their destinations, work in the library and even volunteer at Cox College helping college students and staff. To find out more about volunteering at Coxhealth, click here.