|
||||||||||||||||||||||
“The volunteers who staff our Emergency Department Waiting Lounge (EDWL) are truly Navigators. They are usually the first members of our Staff to greet these patients and their accompanying family members and friends as they enter the Emergency Department. They help them negotiate what appears to them to be a most bewildering and confusing system. All it takes is a kind face, a soft touch, and a willingness to serve, and you can be of immense benefit to these patients in distress," he said. And perfect examples of that are Dick Wrigley of Norwalk and Joyce Barnhart of Westport, who co-chair the EDWL Volunteers, a special group of individuals who help Norwalk Hospital meet its mission to provide “uniquely excellent, innovative and compassionate care with exceptional outcomes.” Mr. Wrigley has always been a strong advocate for volunteerism. Over the years, he has volunteered for Boy Scouts, Little League and as a mentor for a child. Ten years ago, Mr. Wrigley joined the Norwalk Hospital Volunteers. Since then, he has been assisting patients and staff, taking on many diverse responsibilities and making an immeasurable difference. As co-chair of the EDWL service, he trains new volunteers and helps coordinate schedules. “People coming into the Emergency Department Ambulatory Entrance of the hospital are coming in as a result of an emergency and are often frightened. “Our role is to remain calm, no matter what the circumstances. We greet the person and let the triage nurse know that a patient has arrived for evaluation,” Mr. Wrigley said. Sometimes, the patients are taken directly from the triage area into the Emergency Department and other times, depending on the situation, they will be instructed to wait in the Emergency Department Waiting Lounge. Five minutes can feel like a long time when you are waiting in an Emergency Department; but the continued reassurance and interest exhibited by the Volunteers is often a source of comfort to the patient and family. “We may get someone an ice pack for a swollen ankle or a band aid for a cut,” he said. Mr. Wrigley admits that sometimes it can get very chaotic and “we are going in a million directions.” But other times, he said, although not too often, “we experience down time.” Joyce Barnhart, the co-chair of the EDWL Volunteers, has volunteered in other areas of the hospital over the years but says, “the one thing I always come back to is the Emergency Department Waiting Lounge. “With the one on one interaction with patients and family members, it is truly rewarding. We are able to provide that TLC while the staff is so busy,” she added. The Emergency Department Waiting Lounge Volunteers greet family members, in addition to patients, who are often anxious and concerned because they are arriving to meet a relative taken to the hospital by ambulance. To be greeted by a warm, friendly person, who is there for no other reason than to help, brings great consolation to those families. The Volunteers uphold the patient’s right to privacy and confidentiality by checking with the nursing staff and patient before escorting the guest into the treatment area. For this volunteer role, it is important that people are friendly and willing to help, have good common sense and a cool head in an emergency. “We are the first face people see as they enter the Emergency area. We meet and greet and coordinate messages between patients and families,” Ms. Barnhart said. The EDWL Volunteer also helps direct people entering the hospital to the Digestive Disorders Center, Radiology, Pulmonary Medicine, the Business Office or a multitude of other destinations. According to Ms. Barnhart, although Mondays and Fridays tend to be the busiest times for this area, it really is unpredictable. But no matter what the day is like, “at the end of the day, when I leave here, I know that I have made a difference.” “We (the EDWL Volunteers) are here to help people in whatever way we can by providing good will and service to all,” Mr. Wrigley added. Anyone interested in exploring Volunteer Opportunities at Norwalk Hospital should call 203-852-2023. © Copyright by ConnecticutPlus.com. Some articles and pictures posted on our website, as indicated by their bylines, were submitted as press releases and do not necessarily reflect the position and opinion of ConnecticutPlus.com, Canaiden LLC or any of its associated entities. Articles may have been edited for brevity and grammar. CURRENT HEADLINES: Top of Page
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
