KDH Volunteer Program
Kemptville District Hospital volunteers are vital members of the hospital’s team, and often the first point of contact for patients as greeters in our Emergency Department and Main Entrance.
What our volunteers do
You will recognize our volunteers by their red smocks working all over the hospital, including the welcome desks at the Emergency Department and Main Entrance. You can also find volunteers making the hospital gardens look beautiful, providing companionship to patients during mealtimes, directing people where to go, handing out comfort kits, and supporting the Pastoral Care Team.
The comfort kits contain everyday necessities like a toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, hand lotion, lip balm and a notebook. They also contain a book of puzzles and a pen to help patients pass the time enjoyably. The kits are available on an ongoing basis for any inpatients.
Typically volunteers work for two to four hours at a time in the area of the hospital they choose.
How to Become a Volunteer
Prospective volunteers are asked to complete a Volunteer Application Form and submit two references – Volunteer Reference Form – with their application. In addition, hospital volunteers must submit the results of a police check and provide the results of a tuberculosis test as well as proof of immunization for certain communicable diseases.
For more information, please email kdh_volunteer@kdh.on.ca.
The full volunteer job description can be found here.
Why Volunteers Matter
Volunteers are the cornerstone of KDH, and have been since before the hospital opened its doors on June 29, 1960. Volunteers came together to raise the funds to build our hospital, and volunteers continue to support KDH nearly seven decades later!
Volunteers provide a friendly face at public entrances to the hospital, including the Emergency Department and Main Entrance. They also support staff with non-clinical tasks, such as companionship during meals for patients and directing people where to go. They help in many different ways throughout the hospital, including distributing educational materials, delivering items to the lab, and assisting with the parking system.
Volunteers often receive compliments from patients because the support they provide is a critical part of the patient experience!
Opportunities for Students
Our Volunteer Program offers special opportunities for students who are interested in healthcare careers! Students can become volunteer greeters in our Emergency Department or Main Entrance to gain their volunteer hours, along with hands-on experience in the healthcare field. Our students can also request reference letters when applying to postsecondary school and graduate programs.
Contact
Email kdh_volunteer@kdh.on.ca for more information about the KDH Volunteer Program.