Although Munson Medical Center is located past county lines in the neighboring Grand Traverse County, its robust volunteer program attracts many Leelanau County residents who are eager to help patients and their friends and families.
Tiffany Likar, volunteer services and patient experience manager at Munson Healthcare, said that there are three primary volunteer opportunities at the Traverse City hospital: ambassadors, emergency department volunteers, and hospitality volunteers at Munson Manor.
Likar said that volunteering at Munson Healthcare is not physically demanding, with the most difficult task being pushing someone in a wheelchair in some — but not all — roles. She said that most volunteers work four-hour shifts during the day once a week. This means that just about anyone can volunteer at the hospital if they have the time and willingness.
“Our volunteers are anywhere from 18 to 90 years old, and the majority of them are retirement age,” Likar said.
“We have a formal application process for our volunteers,” Likar continued. “Anybody can apply, and there’s a certain path that they can take. On the Munson Healthcare website, there is a place for volunteers where people who are interested can submit a form. Processes then happen behind the scenes. Once we meet with them, we find out what they’re looking for.”
The first volunteer role that Likar discussed was hospital ambassador. These volunteers are stationed at the entrances and greet people in the lobbies along with registration staff. They also assist patients and their family members with wayfi nding and navigating the medical campus.
Likar also mentioned a similar role to ambassadors called patient escort, who provide similar assistance to patients who are being discharged from the hospital. These volunteers help patients get from their rooms to the exit.
Some ambassadors and patient escorts receive instruction and training from hospital staff on pushing wheelchairs, so they can guide patients out of the building. And all hospital ambassadors and volunteers receive at least some training from staff and other volunteers before being put on the front lines.
“New volunteers get paired up with a staff member or more seasoned volunteers. They shadow them and learn what their role looks like. While training volunteers, we go at their comfort level. When they feel comfortable enough to not work side-by-side (with staff or an experienced volunteer), we start pairing them up with other volunteers,” Likar said.
Volunteers in the emergency department provide non-clinical care to patients and their families. This can range from comforting emergency room visitors through interaction and by providing warm blankets, to serving as a liaison between the patient’s friends and family and hospital staff.
Likar said that although emergency department volunteers may not be able to answer all their visitors’ questions, they can probably help them connect with someone on staff at the Munson Medical Center Emergency Room who can.
Among the emergency department volunteers is Nancy Fisher, a Leland resident and former member of the Munson Healthcare Board of Directors. Fisher provided some more details about volunteer experience in the emergency department in a brief interview with the newspaper.
“We help patients get into a gown, if that’s what’s needed, and keep them as comfortable as possible while waiting, which can be frustrating if we don’t have a room, or it’s not the right room for them. We also can give them a warm blanket or some ice chips,” Fisher said.
“I have a lot of compassion for these people because I’ve been on the other side multiple times,” Fisher continued. “Everybody is just trying to do what’s best for the patient and make their experience not quite as horrible as it can be.”
According to the Munson Healthcare website, the Munson Manor Hospitality House is a “‘home away from home’ in Traverse City for out-of-town patients, family members, and caregivers who face the added stress of traveling during a loved one’s hospitalization.”
Located in west Traverse City next to Munson Medical Center, the clinic has 30 guestrooms and other accommodations. Hospital staff help provide services like food, lodging, and laundry at Munson Manor, but they also enlist volunteer help to keep the hospitality house running.
Likar said these volunteers perform similar duties to ambassadors and emergency department volunteers, like directing visitors to their rooms and providing support to families, as well as making sure the Manor’s kitchens are up to par.
Munson Manor is also looking for volunteers to assist with their family dinner program. According to the website, skilled cooks are invited to help supply dinners for 20-25 people on Sundays through Thursdays using the hospitality house’s “large, well-stocked kitchen.”
Munson Manor also accepts food donations and single-serve meals. To sign up as a volunteer at the hospitality house or see their donation wish list, visit munsonhealthcare.org/munsonmedical- center/patients-visitors/ munson-manor-hospitality house.
Likar also mentioned that Munson Healthcare Hospice seeks volunteers, but she does not coordinate them. For more information about volunteering at the hospice, see www.munsonhealthcare. org/home-health/ hospice/hospice-volunteer-application- 1.
