Volunteer staff makes
big impact on hospital
LAKEWOOD — Kimball Medical Center is not unlike other hospitals in that it uses volunteers to help provide valuable comfort and caring that complements the professional medical care provided by the full-time staff.
"People genuinely want to give from their hearts," said Donna Salin, manager of Kimball Medical Center’s Volunteer Resource Center. "When they come to Kimball as potential volunteers, people bring with them a lifetime’s worth of skills and stories."
By identifying a volunteer’s personal preferences and goals and examining their strengths, Salin’s staff helps them find a role at Kimball that provides them with a successful, fulfilling volunteer experience.
"The volunteers benefit from a sense of reward and community spirit, especially since Kimball Medical Center touches so many lives in our community," Salin said.
Volunteers play many roles at Kimball, Salin said. They can work with patients, provide clerical or reception services to the hospital staff, work in one of three community thrift shops and even knit and crochet comfort items for patients.
"We have had volunteers at Kimball who play the piano, sing songs for geriatric patients, and even play Santa Claus in our pediatric units," Salin said. "Other volunteers act as guides and escorts, or run errands for the hospital staff. Every volunteer role is important and any individual with compassion, dedication and caring can become a terrific volunteer."
Kimball Medical Center is always looking for dedicated volunteers. Anyone wishing to volunteer may call the Volunteer Resource Center at (732) 886-4523 to request a brochure and application, or visit http://www.saintbarnabas.com.
Kimball Medical Center is an affiliate of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System, the largest integrated health care delivery system in New Jersey, with nine acute care hospitals, nine nursing homes, five ambulatory care facilities, three geriatric centers, three assisted living residences, a freestanding 100-bed inpatient psychiatric facility and a statewide behavioral health network.
Located in Lakewood, Kimball is a fully accredited, 350-bed facility offering the most advanced, ultra-modern diagnostic and treatment services, including emergency and urgent care, laser and arthroscopic surgery, maternity and a Level II special care nursery, pediatrics, inpatient dialysis, occupational medicine, cancer and diabetes treatment.
Kimball has a comprehensive sports medicine program and provides rehabilitative services to more than 4,000 patients annually. Kimball also offers state-of-the-art services at The Breast Center, an MRI, and the Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center at Manchester.
Kimball is also the recipient of the Magnet Award for nursing excellence. The Center for Healthy Living offers a wide array of programs and services for area families, children and seniors, including community education programs, support groups, and school-based initiatives.