Volunteer Services Ramps Up Despite Ongoing Pandemic
As we continue to work through the second year of the pandemic and adapt to new ways of working and serving our community, Island Health is ramping up volunteer services once again to help support our staff and patients. While the Volunteer Services department was shut down early in the pandemic, the need for help was still great, particularly as Island Health provided vaccines to our community. With the help of several volunteers, Island Health provided vaccine and booster clinics throughout 2021.
“We could not have offered our vaccine clinics without the support and commitment of our amazing volunteers,” said Elise Cutter, CEO.
After a year of closure to the department, Island Health welcomed Johnalee Otten as the new Volunteer Supervisor in October 2021. Formerly working in the Patient Accounts department, Johnalee’s strong background working with volunteers in Lihue, Hawaii at Wilcox Medical Center and with the American Cancer Society made her a natural fit for the position. Johnalee immediately jumped into the role by standing up booster vaccine clinics throughout the month of November, calling on several volunteer vaccinators to support the cause.
“We are grateful for our volunteers at Island Health and I feel privileged to be part of the volunteer team. I am excited to get the volunteer program fully up and running,” said Johnalee.
As the organization continues to address the changing needs of our community throughout the pandemic and beyond, volunteers have helped support various projects and positions, playing a vital role in delivering compassionate care to the community. From greeters at the self-screening kiosks to vaccinators in our clinics, volunteers have stepped up when we’ve most needed them and we are extremely grateful for their support and dedication.
If you’d like to learn more about the becoming a volunteer or would like to connect with our new Volunteer Supervisor, contact Johnalee Otten at 360.299.1397 or visit islandhealth.org/volunteers for more information.
Published on March 29, 2022