Ballad Health Auxiliary

The auxiliary renders services to Ballad Health and its related hospitals; its patients, guests, and team members, while assisting Ballad Health in promoting the health and welfare of the communities served, and functions as an advisory board to the Ballad Health Corporate Volunteer/Auxiliary Department. In addition to the volunteers reflected in our "active" volunteer count reported on Line 6 of Part I, home volunteers continue to crochet or knit baby blankets and caps, quilt or sew lap blankets for patients, hats for cancer patients, large Christmas stockings for babies born in December, and other items for cancer patients, as well as perform clerical work from home. Each volunteer helps to ensure that every patient at a Ballad Health facility receives the best possible care. There are many services and special project opportunities for volunteers throughout Ballad Health's service areas. The leadership within Ballad Health volunteer and auxiliary resources departments work very closely with volunteers to ensure appropriate volunteer placement. This allows volunteers to provide service in an area that matches their passions, interests, and abilities. There has been an increase in the number of applications received for student volunteers, many of which are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare. Volunteering at a Ballad Health facility enables students to gain practical hands-on experience and helps develop vital skills that can be applied to their careers. It is the auxiliary's responsibility to support these students and educate them on the integration of empathy into the patient experience. This allows these volunteers to create a healthier region by accelerating healthy outcomes for patients, caregivers and communities as current students and as future clinicians. Auxiliary volunteers have the same onboarding process as paid team members; including, but not limited to, required immunizations, orientation, competencies, and unit/department training where they will serve. Annual self-evaluations and educational opportunities are conducted to ensure a consistent provision of quality service to patients, visitors, and team members. Volunteers are also one of the best ways to gain feedback from the communities Ballad Health serves. This input is used to continually improve the care offered at all Ballad Health facilities. Volunteers play a key role in a variety of departments, including business offices, reception desks, gift shops, blood banks, and many others. They work throughout the year to assist hospital staff, patients, and patient families. Some services provided by auxiliary volunteers during the year included: The Pet Therapy Program, active throughout the health system, brings specially trained dogs in to lift the spirits of patients and create a healing environment. Studies have confirmed therapy dogs help people physically, emotionally, and socially by providing greater comfort and happiness; decreasing stress, anxiety, blood pressure, and heart rates; and by providing patients with unconditional love. Each dog in the program is trained and certified by a nationally recognized therapy dog program. Auxiliary pet therapy volunteers are also called to local colleges such as East Tennessee State University, Emory & Henry College, and Milligan University to assist students with stress relief. Additionally, they are present at Camp Firefly, a free, one-day camp designed for children and teenagers who have experienced the death of a loved one. Therapy dogs are there for children who need one-on-one comfort or a few minutes to decompress. The Pet Therapy program has extended to Greeneville Community Hospital, Norton Community Hospital, Bristol Regional Medical Center, Indian Path Community Hospital and will be extending to all Ballad facilities. Volunteers currently staff Johnson City Medical Center's (JCMC) ICU, which is the region's only Level I trauma center. Volunteers also staff JCMC's information desk and surgery waiting room desks. The addition of a new director of volunteers at the Washington County Tennessee hospitals has resulted in an increase of 300% in volunteers and 100% in areas served. Volunteers at Bristol Regional Medical Center and Johnson City Medical Center have begun rounding on patients, which has significantly improved the number of patients surveyed. The Regional Cancer Center of Kingsport located by Indian Path Community Hospital (IPCH) currently has volunteers serving there. The volunteers provide support for the patients, families, and staff by offering drinks, snacks, blankets, and pillows as well as serving lunches. They also provide a Courtesy Cart program which helps facilitate transportation of patients. Most volunteers are cancer survivors who are genuinely interested in the patients as individuals, making the Center's oncology visits less stressful. High school and college students were welcomed into participating here as volunteers and interacting with patients. The students, the patients and the staff proclaimed this program as a success. At Greeneville Community Hospital, volunteers service the outpatient desk, laboratory, radiation oncology, women's center/breast health awareness, and volunteer office. With delivery of gift shop flowers, cards, and newspapers daily, the volunteers strive to make a difference in the lives of patients and their families. The auxiliary has placed a family surgical lounge volunteer in the lounge and in our medical office buildings. Smyth County Community Hospital Auxiliary is continuing to provide Cancer Bags for patients. Bags are filled with items that are appropriate for these patients such as chap stick, lotion, CD's, blankets, water, and other items. This has been very well received by patients. Fresh baked cookies are served in waiting rooms to the visitors at IPCH. Auxiliary-operated gift shops, which are in most Ballad Health hospitals, provide merchandise for patients, visitors, and team members. The gift shop volunteers not only sell merchandise; but provide a listening ear to family members needing to verbalize concerns about their hospitalized family members. The auxiliary offers virtual sales which allows team members to order items online and receive their purchases by mail to their home. Volunteer Chaplains: The staff of the Spiritual and Pastoral Care Department endeavors to affirm and respect each person, to be inclusive of all, and to approach diverse religious convictions with sensitivity. Employed chaplains are supplemented by a high-quality core of volunteer chaplains composed of representatives of various denominations in the area. In selecting these persons, the auxiliary seeks people who will adhere to its Code of Ethics and will attempt to relate to each patient's particular religious/spiritual understanding and not proselytize or coerce. Each volunteer chaplain participating in the Ballad Health Spiritual and Pastoral Care Department goes through a rigorous interview and training regimen found in its Guide to Clinical Practice. This document orients individuals to Pastoral Care at Ballad Health facilities. Volunteer chaplains work in hospitals throughout Ballad Health. They provide pastoral care visitation and support to patients, families of patients and team members. Where implemented, chaplain programs are on-call, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. At larger hospitals, there are spiritual care volunteers who provide scheduled coverage and daily visits for added support and presence. In addition to the many volunteer hours provided to the hospitals, the auxiliary raises money for the hospitals to help fund needed projects. Individual Ballad Health hospitals request donations from the auxiliary. Most often, donations fund small capital items such as a piece of medical equipment or items directed toward improved patient care or comfort. The auxiliary also provides funds to the Ballad Health Foundation for coordinated projects in support of Ballad Health hospitals. Funding is provided only after the auxiliary board has reviewed and approved a request.