Community Stories
Ian's Story - Dedication and skills vastly improve emergency room experience
Ian stepped into the Volunteer Services office at Royal University Hospital of Saskatoon in February of 2006. Early on in the interview, it was evident that they had come upon a gem of a volunteer. Retired and ready to help, Ian exuded a great deal of willingness and confidence to work wherever needed. Thinking about his combination of skills, personality and availability, the newly created ER Ambassador Program seemed a perfect match. This program required mature adults with good relational skills, ability to work under pressure, and flexibility to roll with whatever came through the doors. Ian’s quiet, yet confident demeanour would be perfect in the fast paced environment of the Emergency Room.
Ian became one of our original ER Ambassadors, acting as a first line of contact for people coming through the doors. His work includes assisting both patients and families, helping route people where they need to go, assisting the Triage Nurse, rounding up wheelchairs, and many other tasks as needed. Ambassadors essentially act as an extra set of eyes, often seeing something that the nurses have not yet noticed, due to the busy nature of the environment in an Emergency Room, and bringing it to their attention.
Quickly becoming a familiar face in the department, Ian started to take a leadership role which, through his experience, allowed him to develop a very extensive, well-written ER Ambassador Handbook for new volunteers. This handbook outlined many possible scenarios that a volunteer may encounter and how to handle them. Ian also took on the role of “Team Leader”, being responsible for the orientation of new volunteers to the department. Ian dedicates at least 8 hours per week to the Emergency Department.
Not only does Ian dedicate his time to the Emergency Room, but because he is also gifted on the computer, he was able to use his talents to design a layout for the Patient Clothing Room. This computer-generated layout was blueprinted down to the minutest details, including shelving and hanger spaces. They were able to see exactly where things would fit without having to manually move anything.
Looking back on the years, Ian often wonders why he didn’t start volunteering sooner, stating, “You can pick volunteer jobs that suit your time schedule- you don’t have to be retired. It doesn’t have to disrupt your schedule.” He also commented, “Volunteering gives you the opportunity to do something different after retirement. There are so many options to help in so many different ways. There aren’t the same pressures as with work- you are doing it to help others and for the great feeling of personal satisfaction.”
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"People and organizations need help at times, and those of us that are more fortunate need to pitch in, because we’re part of the world. You get out of it what you put in."
Connie, Volunteer
Did You Know?
"It's no coincidence that those who volunteer, who give of themselves and who take an active part in their community end up, on average, healthier and happier."
Dr. David Butler Jones, Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
