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Volunteering
Volunteer Page of Fame
Passion. Action. Impact.
At Trillium Health Centre, our 1100 volunteers at Trillium-Mississauga and Trillium-West Toronto contribute to more than 100 programs and services to benefit the lives of patients and the staff that are part of their care. Learn more about what some of our volunteers are doing to make a difference in the life of a patient here at Trillium Health Centre!
How can I help you today?
Those words come with a smile from Stacey Tingle, Information Desk volunteer. Since joining Trillium in December, she has “clocked” more than 40 hours of service, conducted with a huge smile on her face, and a disposition of pure joy. One only has to walk by her on-shift, to witness her cheerfulness in action. It is positively contagious.
She enjoys the opportunity to assist a wide variety of people with many different needs and requests. She recognizes that in her role she is an integral first contact point for many visitors and patients of the hospital, and puts a great deal of importance to that position. First impressions can truly last a lifetime – especially for an ill or stressed out patient or family member.
A most recent example of this was an encounter with a very young girl who was coming in for day surgery. She was tearful and Stacey made an effort to catch her eye and wave at her as she passed by in her stroller. On her way back out of the hospital following her procedure, the little girl asked her mother to stop by the desk to have a chat with Stacey and introduce her to a very loved stuffed animal. “I felt that we had made a real connection with one another – and it felt really good.” Stacey says with a beaming smile.
What stands out for Stacey is that it really is the little things that can make a difference in another person’s life, and that it is so easy to give support. She is very grateful for the opportunity to volunteer with Trillium; just as grateful as those who come to Stacey for assistance. They are guaranteed to receive it with a smile!
Interested in volunteering on the frontlines like Stacey? Contact Nancy Bowles, Consultant Support Specialist at nabowles@thc.on.ca for more information.
Putting the care in critical
Trillium Health Centre offers many services to patients and family members that are enhanced by the presence of volunteers. One of the most important areas that benefits immensely from volunteer support, is the Critical Care Family Waiting Room. Seven days a week, three shifts a day a group of dedicated volunteers provide continuity of care between the staff and the family members of loved ones who are being cared for in the Intensive Care Unit, Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit and Catherization Lab.
Acting as a liaison between clinical staff and anxiously waiting family members, volunteers are an integral part of the critical care team. Bernadette Brown, volunteer service leader for the last eight years, knows first hand the impact the team makes. We are part of the team of care. Family members become more comfortable knowing their loved one is getting the best care possible”. Ironically, Bernadette joined the volunteer service as a substitute for a fellow volunteer for a short while. What kept her coming back then and what keeps her in the role today is the opportunity is to support in times of stress and worry.
Barb Crawford left, Bernadette Brown right
A typical shift would see a volunteer splitting their time between being present in the actual waiting room to running back and forth from the units with updates on a patient’s status. Although no medical information is given by the volunteer, just being able to tell the family if their loved one is out of surgery and if they are able to have visitors can be a great relief after agonizing hours of waiting.
Critical Care volunteers also work closely with Post Operative Information volunteers who man the waiting room for surgical patients. Some volunteers, like Barb Crawford are cross trained to provide support in both areas throughout the week. This allows for even greater consistency of care. “A crossed-trained volunteer is more aware of unexpected changes in the routines of the ICU staff, so they can relay messages in a supportive manner.” Barb explains. “Having volunteers in both areas is crucial in helping families through their anxious and often overwhelming experiences.”
For more info on Critical Care volunteering contact Barb Smeltzer at bsmeltzer@thc.on.ca.
