Auxilians and Volunteers

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Iowa Hospital Auxilians and Volunteers

Joining the Iowa Hospital Auxilians and Volunteers personal membership group is free. Click here to join.

The Iowa Hospital Association appreciates everything auxilians and volunteers do to help Iowa hospitals. Call Pam Gridley at 515-288-1955 for help with auxilian and volunteer issues.

Iowa Hospital Auxilians and Volunteers board of directors

  • President – Kirsten Heerdt, Volunteer Services Coordinator, Henry County Health Center, Mount Pleasant
  • President-elect – Bailey Clubb, Manager of Volunteer Services and Committees, Clarinda Regional Health Center
  • Secretary – Jamie Henley, Director, Volunteer Services, Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids
  • Director – Terra Waggener, Manager, Volunteer Services, Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, West Burlington
  • Director – Jordan Weber, Executive Assistant/GS Coordinator, Iowa Specialty Hospital, Clarion
  • Director – Vickie Newell, Manager, Volunteer Services, Mary Greeley Medical Center, Ames
  • Director – Melinda Pitt, Volunteer Services Manager, Waverly Health Center
  • Director – Nanette Everly, Board and Medical Services Manager, Jefferson County Health Center, Fairfield
  • Director – Laura Kloewer, Public Relations and Outreach Coordinator and Foundation Executive Director, Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, Red Oak
  • Staff liaison – Pam Gridley, Vice President, Corporate Relations, Iowa Hospital Association, Des Moines

Hospital highlight

Mary Greeley Medical Center Volunteer Patient Safety Program

Patient safety is a priority for all hospitals. Twelve years ago, Volunteer Services at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames set out to positively affect this critical initiative. After attending a national conference and listening to a presentation about new and innovative volunteer programs, we felt the volunteer Patient Safety Program was just what we were looking for.

This program met the key criteria we were looking for:

  • It engaged our volunteers in patient safety.
  • It helped support progress already made with fall reduction.
  • It provided meaningful and gratifying volunteer work.

We started by getting buy-in from nursing leaders. This was easy to do because they could see the impact the program could make. We collaborated with a clinical resource nurse, educated staff about the program, recruited and trained volunteers, and piloted the program on our surgical unit.

Volunteers visit patients identified as being at an increased risk for falls. They have set criteria they are looking for when they enter a room; if any requirements are not in compliance, we have trained the volunteers to correct them. Criteria include:

  • Are personal items within reach?
  • Are side rails up on both sides?
  • Are the bed’s three power cords plugged in?
  • Are the patient and family members educated on fall risk prevention?
  • Is the bed brake turned on?
  • Is the bed in a low position?
  • Is the bed/chair alarm on and activated if needed?
  • Is the bed’s power indicator light on?
  • Is the call light within reach?
  • Is the fall risk sign outside the room correct?
  • Is the patient wearing a yellow risk band, which shows they are at an increased risk for falls?
  • Is the patient wearing nonslip footwear?
  • Is the recliner locked?

This program has been a win for:

  • Our volunteers, who feel like they are doing meaningful work and enjoy interacting with patients
  • Our patients, who often comment about how they appreciate the volunteers checking on them and enjoying the social interaction
  • Our nurses, who appreciate the extra set of eyes on their patients to help keep safety protocols in place

Our volunteers have completed 48,000 patient safety rounds on four units. Although it’s hard to show the number of falls prevented because of these rounds, I am sure this program has contributed to decreasing patient falls and patient falls with injury over the years.

If you have any questions, please contact Vickie Newell, Volunteer and Older Adult Services manager at Mary Greeley Medical Center.

Dates to remember

  • IHAV Roundtable – Volunteer Recruitment, Feb. 19 (virtual)
  • Gift Shop Conference and Market – April 3, Des Moines
  • National Volunteer Week – April 20-26
  • National Hospital Week – May 11-17
  • IHA Annual Meeting – Oct. 7-8, Des Moines
  • IHAV Roundtable – Oct. 21, Artificial Intelligence for Volunteer Services (virtual)
  • Volunteer Manager's Day – Nov. 5

2022-2024 educational opportunities

Advocacy

To make positive changes to health care policies in Iowa, the Iowa Hospital Association relies on the support of hospital advocates to be the voices of Iowa hospitals at the Statehouse. With the ever-evolving issues and challenges that hospitals face, communicating a shared vision of health care in Iowa is crucial. Together, our lawmakers can hear our voices.

Advocates can be the voice of Iowa hospitals at the Statehouse during Hospital Day on the Hill. Typically occurring in February, Hospital Day on the Hill significantly affects Iowa hospitals and their communities and patients.

 

Auxilian and Volunteer Manual

The Auxilian and Volunteer Manual provides tools to enhance hospital auxiliary and volunteer programs.

2021 Educational Opportunities

2020 Educational Opportunities

2019 Iowa Hospital Auxilians/Volunteers Annual Survey

The 2019 annual survey is combined with the American Hospital Association's annual survey. The auxiliary/volunteer portion include three questions:

  • How many auxiliary members and volunteers (adults and teens) were there in 2019?
  • How many hours of service did the auxilians and volunteers give to the hospital in 2019?
  • What were the total funds contributed to the hospital by the auxiliary and volunteer department in 2019?

View the 2019 annual survey results.

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