LEWISTON – St. Mary’s Health System is sponsoring two nine-week, career-oriented programs for junior volunteers between the ages of 12 and 17.
Twenty-six students were selected to participate in St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center’s program this summer. Additionally, two elementary school students and one middle school student are volunteering in the Eden Program at St. Mary’s d’Youville Pavilion.
All students begin their assignments by performing a variety of supportive tasks. Volunteers become familiar with the hospital campus and learn basic policies and routines.
They are trained to transport hospital patients via wheelchair and stretcher; retrieve pharmacy prescriptions for nursing staff; transport patient charts from health information services; and deliver lab specimens to and from physicians offices and nursing units.
Student volunteers assist staff in clinical and business offices throughout St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. They are also engaged with staff and adult volunteers in St. Mary’s d’Youville Pavilion; St. Mary’s Food Pantry; St. Mary’s Residences (formerly known as Maison Marcotte); St. Mary’s WorkMed; the B Street Health Center; the hospital-based American Cancer Society Cancer Resource Center; St. Mary’s Lots-to-Gardens; Campus Cuisine; and in various physician practices affiliated with Community Clinical Services.
In addition to this summer’s volunteer programs, St. Mary’s works throughout the academic year with area high school and college students who have career interests in medicine, public health, nursing, business and other fields.
The majority of St. Mary’s student volunteers are pre-med and science majors from nearby Bates College. However, St. Mary’s accepts students from many different schools representing all fields of study.
St. Mary’s volunteer philosophy is that any volunteer relationship can be maintained at a basic level or can develop into something more challenging and complex.
The most successful student volunteers are those who take the initiative in all aspects of service to develop positive working relationships with clinicians, other employees and those in their care.
Long-term student volunteers are provided opportunities for job- shadowing and career information interviews provided they have already demonstrated a serious commitment to one or more St. Mary’s program(s).
Students interested in establishing service learning experiences are referred to St. Mary’s Education Department. Service learning typically involves a direct link with specific academic programs and objectives.
For more information about student or adult volunteer opportunities, contact volunteer services coordinator Kathleen Kuritz at 777-8368 or via e-mail at [email protected]. Additional information can be found on the St. Mary’s Health System website at http://www.stmarysmaine.com.
(c) 2008 Sun-Journal Lewiston, Me.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
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