Making a Differene in Your Community : Volunteers Fulfill Needs of the Patients

On Thursday mornings, Judy Campeau is the complaint department at Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center.

One of the volunteers in the Patient Relations Program, Campeau spends four hours a week in Tarzana making sure patients’ problems, needs and complaints are heard.

The program uses volunteers to meet with patients within 24 hours of admission to let them know someone is there to listen.

“We’ve had this in place at the Tarzana campus for 10 years,” said Geri Klanfer, volunteer director for the medical center. “We realized nurses don’t have time always to spend time with a patient and this does take time. They are busy doing the medical aspects of the patient care. It’s another personal touch that the patient can use.”

Volunteers at both Encino and Tarzana start with a set of standard questions to ensure patients’ needs are being met. Questions range from efficiency of the admitting process, cleanliness of the rooms, noise levels and responsiveness of the nursing staff.

And occasionally a patient will admit “Oh, I’m dying for a hamburger,” Campeau said.

The patients are often stunned when Campeau--after checking with nurses and the kitchen staff--delivers their burger.

“It’s a rewarding type of a thing,” said Campeau, who has volunteered as a patient liaison for seven years. “You come in and you feel like you accomplished something.”

For information about volunteering, call Klanfer at (818) 995-5036.

Other volunteering opportunities:

Los Angeles Shanti Foundation needs volunteers to provide education to people affected by HIV and AIDS. Shanti needs people to assist with a new program aimed at helping gay and bisexual men reduce their risk of becoming infected with HIV, with a special focus on young men and men of color. All Shanti volunteers are thoroughly trained. The next training is scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. To register, call Shanti at (818) 908-8849 or (213) 962-8197.

The nonprofit organization Actors Alley is looking for volunteers to help with a variety of production and administrative jobs for the theater company. For more information, contact Elynmarie Kazle at (818) 908-2121, extension 222.

The Hospice Program of Home Health Care Agency of California is looking for volunteers who have a few hours a week to spend in the home of someone with a life-threatening illness. Hospice care is provided by a team composed of a nurse, a social worker, a chaplain, a physician and a volunteer working together to enable adults and children with terminal illnesses to die in comfort and peace at home. Volunteers offer practical assistance such as shopping and errand-running as well as companionship and emotional support. Training is provided. For more information, call Lisa Nagy at (818) 785-1800.

Burbank’s Retired Senior Volunteer Program is seeking volunteers for the following stations:

Glendale Adventist Medical Center needs volunteers in escort services, information desk, gift shop, patient care and needs individuals to act as hosts. Training and orientation is provided.

McCambridge Park Nutrition Program in Burbank needs volunteers to greet seniors, assign seats and mark meal cards one day a week from 9 to 11:15 a.m.

For more information, call the RSVP offices at (818) 953-9503.

Antelope Valley Gay & Lesbian Alliance is looking for volunteers interested in gay and lesbian history to assist with an exhibit of the International Gay & Lesbian Archives in the Antelope Valley. Call Stephen or Chris at (805) 940-3950 for more information.

Getting Involved is a weekly listing of volunteering opportunities. Please address prospective listings to Getting Involved, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Or fax them to (818) 772-3338.