UNION HOSPITAL OF CECIL COUNTY - ELKTON, MARYLAND VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
An Overview
Union Hospital is a local, nonprofit community hospital in Elkton, Maryland dedicated to helping those in need of medical assistance and maintaining the health and well-being of the county residents. Employing over 1,000 people it has been recognized for clinical excellence in its health care, proudly serving the community with the utmost respect, quality, and compassion. The volunteer services are just one small aspect in the operation of Union Hospital but they play a very essential part that many may not realize. Under the organization of the Union Hospital Foundation, there are about 300 volunteers that work at the hospital year round. Volunteers are able to provide their services in all aspects of the hospital’s functioning either full-time or part-time. This could be in different medical departments of the hospital, at fundraising events, or working directly with patients. They help to add a personal and warm touch to Union Hospital care.
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Keep scrolling to learn what I did in my time working for the hospital!
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Image credited to the Cecil Whig.
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WHAT DID I DO?
My Assignments
Depending upon individual goals, volunteers are often assigned to different departments around the hospital to help those different offices with anything that they need. In my time here, I was assigned to the Cardiology department for half of my day and the transportation department for the second half.
In the Cardiology Department, I was responsible for checking in out-patients and bringing patients between departments for their different prescribed procedures. For the most part, I sat at the front desk checking in patients and occasionally answering the phone and taking messages. I was available for miscellaneous tasks that the staff needed.
Working in the transportation department, was a little more engaging and demanding. My responsibilities here included:
assisting employees with transporting patients around the hospital
transporting equipment to different floors and departments of the hospital as needed
transporting specimens from different floors to the lab in the basement
This assignment​ required a lot more responsibility out of me considering that I had to work my way up to earn things that I could do. The transportation department is the hidden backbone of the hospital and little mistakes are often devastating. As a volunteer, I had to earn my trust to take equipment and specimen. I was never permitted to transport patients by myself.
