Holy Spirit Medical Center’s Volunteer Companion program takes off, new friendships form

Hampden and Holy Spirit medical centers celebrated their volunteers at a volunteer appreciation luncheon at Holy Spirit Medical Center. From left, Rita Wambach, former employee and volunteer; Dick Welsh, vice president, Human Resources, West Shore Region; Kalpana Bollam, companion volunteer; Adelia Gates, companion volunteer and nursing assistant, Holy Spirit Medical Center Emergency Services; Sister Mary Joseph Albright, vice president, Mission Integration, Holy Spirit Medical Center; and Liz Keating, volunteer coordinator, patient experience representative, Hampden Medical Center Patient and Guest Experience.

Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center launched a new initiative, the Volunteer Companion program, in February 2023, to improve the patient experience.

Volunteer companions spend time with patients who do not receive visits from support people or family members. Volunteers provide comfort and help pass time by playing games, reading, talking and simply spending time with the patient.

A recruitment article featured in The RITE Stuff encouraged the Penn State Health family and their loved ones to sign up to be volunteer companions. Liz Keating, volunteer coordinator and patient experience representative for Holy Spirit Medical Center, said the response was humbling.

“Listening to the stories from the volunteers and patients, their excitement about spending time together, makes your heart smile,” Keating said.

“Currently we have four employee volunteers who come to Holy Spirit Medical Center during the week to be a companion. The program has been especially successful on the 4^th floor where many of our long-term patients are located.”

Keating shared a touching story about a patient who taught a high school student volunteer how to play chess for the first time. They developed a strong bond and both look forward to their visit each week.

The Volunteer Companion program offers staff an opportunity to be a comforting friend, to hold a patient’s hand, talk for a few hours and help them order their meal. The Patient Experience team is looking to expand the program to bring even more joy and compassion to every floor at Holy Spirit Medical Center.

Interested employees, family and friends can apply to be a volunteer companion here. They can also access the volunteer application on the Holy Spirit Medical Center website. For more information, please contact Liz Keating at 717-763-2657 or ekeating@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

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