SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – Would you like to make a difference in the lives of others? Then consider becoming a Regional West volunteer. Regional West volunteers create a difference in the lives of patients, families, visitors and staff every day as they share their time and talents with others, doing extraordinary things through their acts of service.

Committed volunteers have been a proud part of Regional West’s heritage for over 60 years. Every year, hundreds of volunteers selflessly devote thousands of hours to support the hospital staff and our patients. Regional West volunteers come from all corners of the community and represent a variety of professions, age groups, and physical abilities, as well as ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Volunteers help at hospital information centers and in the surgical waiting room. They clerk in the Gift Shop and deliver patient mail, magazines and flowers. They serve in the Immunization Clinic, the Cancer Treatment Center, Breast Health Center, and the Emergency Department and provide clerical, non-clinical, and/or technical support for a number of other departments. Volunteers also make “Pediatric Pals” for pediatric patients and Alzheimer patients, sew lap robes, and knit baby booties and crib blankets.

“I wanted to volunteer at this time in my life when I am no longer in the work place and my family is grown,” said Linda Ott, volunteer and president of the Volunteers and Friends of Regional West organization. “Volunteering gives me a chance to stay involved in the community and be involved with people. It also gives me a chance to be the smiling and encouraging person when I encounter people who are experiencing a difficult time.” 

Ott said another rewarding aspect of being involved in the Volunteers and Friends organization is their dedication to furthering the education of future health care professionals in the region. Proceeds from the Gift Shop, book and jewelry sales, and the coffee cart are used by the group to fund health care-related scholarships, programs, and equipment.

“We have very talented and driven young people in our community,” she said.

Regional West volunteers are bound by the same code of ethics and confidentiality as paid staff. New volunteers, who must be at least 14 years old, are required to complete orientation before volunteering at Regional West.  A background check, tuberculosis test, and flu shot (during flu season) are also required of all volunteers. They are provided at no cost by the hospital.

“Volunteering with the Volunteers and Friends of Regional West organization is a great help to the hospital and is very rewarding when you realize the value of what you are doing,” said Ott.

If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of others by becoming a Regional West volunteer, please call 308-630-1271 or complete the online application form at http://www.rwhs.org/ways-give/volunteers-friends.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 182-bed regional referral center and one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 providers, and over 2,000 employees, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.