ABOUT

Volunteer

Make a difference: Volunteer at Westfields Hospital & Clinic

You can expect to meet new people, learn new skills and give back to our community when you volunteer at Westfields Hospital & Clinic. We have volunteer positions in a variety of departments, programs and events. There are so many ways to volunteer with us, and each and every one of those ways has a positive impact on the health and well-being of those around you.

To volunteer at Westfields Hospital & Clinic, you must:

  • Be at least 16 years old
  • Commit to volunteering for a certain period of time, usually at least four months
  • Complete a brief health screening process that includes a review of your immunizations and a blood draw to test your immunity to childhood diseases, hepatitis B and exposure to tuberculosis
  • Criminal background checks are completed if you are 18 years of age or older

After you apply, a volunteer coordinator will contact you to discuss next steps. These might include an interview to explore talents and interests to create the most rewarding volunteer experience for you.

Once you start volunteering, we’ll give you all the training and support you need, and we’ll be by your side to help you thrive in your new role.

Volunteer benefits

Volunteers are an important part of the Westfields Hospital & Clinic team. We couldn’t do what we do without you. Some of the benefits of volunteering with us include:

  • Complete training
  • Yearly volunteer recognition event
  • Invitations to campus events
  • Supportive staff
  • Social connections
  • One free beverage and cookie for any shift worked
  • One free meal for a shift worked of three or more hours

National volunteer appreciation week

National Volunteer Appreciation week is April 17th-23rd. In honor of this, we want to thank our volunteers for giving their time and making good happen at Westfields! To show our appreciation, we are sending a card in the mail and will officially recognize our volunteers further in the fall with a luncheon.

Volunteer roles

There are many different ways to share your time and talents at Westfields Hospital & Clinic. Whether you have prior experience or are just starting out, we provide training and support for every role, so it’s easy to get started.

Available roles may change depending on current needs. Typical opportunities include:

  • Administrative help
  • Cancer Center support
  • Gift Shop attendant
  • Gardening
  • Healing Touch (Level 3 or above)
  • Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) - delirium prevention
  • Helping with Advance Care Planning (Honoring Choices)
  • Patient & Family Advisory Council member
  • Pet therapy - Certified pet therapy teams must be registered with Pet Partners or Therapy Dogs International, Inc. (TDI)
  • Rehabilitation support
  • Special events support

If you enjoy working with people who are 65+, we’re always looking for volunteers to spend quality time with patients at risk of delirium.

Volunteers in our Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) spend time visiting with patients who might be at a higher risk of experiencing delirium while they are here, based on factors such as their age, surgery/anesthesia, or length of stay.

Volunteers engage patients in activities proven to prevent delirium, including orientation, sensory and therapeutic interactions. Volunteers in this program receive a specialized full-day of training on the program and spend time shadowing other volunteers in this role before being scheduled.

Interested in volunteering? If you or someone you know want to explore the HELP program, please contact Iskra Rood to learn more about the HELP program.

Patient and Family Advisory Council

Your voice is important to us. That’s why we formed a Patient and Family Advisory Council to provide feedback on what we do and how we can meet your health care needs in the future. Current and former patients have valuable knowledge and experience to share with other consumers and service providers.

Meetings follow an agenda and discussion guide based on input from the council itself.

If you or your family member received services from Westfields Hospital & Clinic and are interested in being part of this exciting opportunity to shape health care in our community, download the application form (PDF), fill it out, and return to:

Renee Sauter
Westfields Hospital
535 Hospital Road
New Richmond, WI 54017

If you’d like more information, please call us at 715-243-2600.