Wisconsin Hospital Association

Wisconsin Hospital Association - A Valued Voice

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Primary Staff Contact:
Jennifer Frank
jfrank@wha.org

2008 Winners--Wisconsin Awards for Volunteer Excellence (WAVE)

Category: Community Service Programs
Winning Program: "Mobile Blood Draw Cart," Ripon Medical Center Associates, Ripon
Due to the brainchild of a phlebotomist at Ripon Medical Center (RMC) and the resources of the Ripon Medical Center Associates, patients now pull up and give blood for lab tests without ever getting out of the car. The service is designed for patients, mainly the elderly, whose trip to the laboratory can be difficult due to limited mobility or dementia. The 'mobile blood-draw cart' enables a phlebotomist to bring blood draw services car-side to the patient in RMC's emergency room ambulance bay. Appointments are scheduled in advance so the registration is complete and the prep work is done before the patient arrives. Patients are required to arrive by taxi or a designated driver, and upon arrival, the driver pulls into the heated bay, allowing the patient to present his arm and have blood drawn, without ever leaving the vehicle and at no extra charge to the patient. This eliminates the possibility of slips and falls both inside the hospital and in the hospital parking lot, especially during the winter months. Once the idea was hatched, the Ripon Medical Center Associates got to work on raising the funds to purchase the specially designed three-tiered cart that holds all necessary supplies and is at the height of a car window.

Category: In-service Hospital Volunteer Programs
Winning Program: "Prayer Shawl Ministry," St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary, Madison
The Prayer Shawl Ministry is a program started and continued by the St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary, in which volunteers knit or crochet prayer shawls and lap robes for patients or family members dealing with long-term or chronic medical issues. The process begins with a prayer or blessing to dedicate the shawl about to be made. As the shawl progresses, the knitter continues to pray for the patient who will receive it. A member of the Pastoral Care Department then presents the shawls, and all the prayers within it, to the patient or family. The program provides a wonderful volunteer opportunity for those who may otherwise be unable to volunteer in the hospital, including those who are home-bound and a group of nine inmates who continue to contribute completed prayer shawls and lap robes. The continuing goal of the Ministry is to provide a prayer shawl or lap robe for 100 percent of the patients who are identified as likely benefitting from such a gift. During 2007, the Ministry met that goal, providing 400 prayer shawls and lap robes to hospital inpatients as well as those at the off-site Renal Center.

Category: Fundraising Programs
Winning Program: "Christmas at The Ridges," Riverview Hospital Auxiliary, Wisconsin Rapids
2008 will celebrate the fifth year for the Riverview Hospital Auxiliary's unique holiday fundraiser, "Christmas at The Ridges." The Ridges is a local golf course, which is the site of the event in early December each year. The dining area is turned into a wonderland of beautiful tables (or 'tablescapes' as they call them), with each table designed with a different theme by a different team of local 'table designers.' Auxiliary members coordinate the entire event, from recruiting table designers, working with the site on the luncheon, soliciting corporate sponsorships and raffle donations from the local business community, to the advertising, ticket sales, and all activities on the day of the event. The event provides the local community the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful luncheon, enjoy a style show and choir performance, and view the elegant and impressive tablescapes. In 2007, this event raised $11,000, attracting 300 guests and selling out its tickets in just 15 minutes.

Category: Community Outreach and/or Collaboration Programs
Winning Program: "Eagle River Memorial Hospital Palliative Care Coalition," Eagle River Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Eagle River
The Eagle River Memorial Hospital Palliative Care Coalition is a collaborative group of community volunteers and hospital auxilians, dedicated to enhancing the community's support for the chronically and terminally ill, their families and caregivers, extending the principles of hospice to a broader population. The purpose of the Coalition is to focus on education, coordination of resources and the delivery of services that meet the needs of patients with life-limiting illnesses.
One of the primary focuses of the Palliative Care Coalition is advance health care planning. Auxiliary volunteers assist in meeting this need by being trained and certified to offer free advanced planning workshops, which are offered twice a month at the hospital. The volunteers provide education on how to draft advanced care documents that reflect end-of-life wishes and take the burden of decision-making off of loved ones. Volunteers also help the Coalition increase public awareness of chronic disease issues and the needs of the long-term caregiver.