Volunteer IMPACT at TBRHSC

Celebrating National Volunteer Week April 12-18

High school, college and university students, retirees, and business people – these are the types of Volunteers and Patient Family Advisors you will see at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation (TBRHSF) and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC). They come from all walks of life and professions to serve in a wide variety of volunteer positions.

Why do they come? For some, it is an opportunity to give back to the Health Sciences Centre; learn about a career; meet new people; or the chance to be able to support their community’s hospital through giving feedback or helping out with fundraising.

Whatever the reason, all of our volunteers make a huge impact on the patient and family experience.

“Volunteers are the backbone of any organization,” says Andrée Robichaud, President and CEO, TBRHSC and Acting CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute. “I couldn’t imagine what our organization would be like without them. They are an essential link to the community and we value what they do to make the patient experience better.”

As we celebrate National Volunteer Week 2015, we want to thank all of our awesome volunteers who help make a difference for all of our patients and families.

Want to make an Impact?

Volunteer Services: We are looking for people who want to make a difference. Our greatest need is in the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP). This opportunity allows volunteers one-on-one visits with patients aged 70 years and older who are enrolled in the program. Volunteers provide: socialization, encouragement around meal time, mental/cognitive games and activities and physical activity. Does this sound like something you might like to do?

Visit the website www.tbh.net/volunteers or call 684-6266 for more information about the application process and a listing of our programs.

Applicants are required to be 16 years of age or older, submit an application form and two reference forms, complete a two-step TB test. An Enhanced Criminal Record Check is required for volunteers in pediatrics.

Patient Family Advisor:

The Patient Family Advisors (PFAS) are the reason Patient and Family Centred Care is the success that it is today and with their continued guidance and expertise it will continue to grow and develop. As an organization we are grateful for the service that they provide and the valued role they play within the organization.

PFAs volunteer their time and expertise at all levels in all areas within TBRHSC. They are members of councils including Board Quality Senior Management and all program and service councils. They are involved in the hiring for all leadership positions and conducting patient experience surveys with patients in the Emergency Department, to name just a few of their important activities. Since TBRHSC’s adoption of PFCC in 2009, PFAs have participated in over 600 working groups. Currently there are approximately 90 PFAs volunteering at TBRHSC.

Patient Family Advisors are an amazing group of committed, reliable, and trustworthy men, women, and children who are willing to share their insights about their care experiences to identify how we can improve the experience for all of our patients and families.

PFAs are our partners in everything we do. They help us to identify ways to facilitate an ideal experience of care for all of our patients and families, caring together to become healthy together.

Visit the website www.tbrhsc.net and go to the section ‘Join our Team’ to find the application to become a Patient and Family Advisor.