PCH Honors Volunteers

April 18-22 was Volunteer Appreciation Week and Pana Community Hospital celebrated their volunteers.  The hospital uses volunteers to escort patients, deliver home-bound meals, and at Quad County Hospice.  “We are so thankful to have our volunteers,” stated Trina Casner, President and CEO of Pana Community Hospital.  “Our volunteers assist our staff in providing excellent customer service to anyone visiting our hospital.”

Patient escorts help by screening and assisting patients and visitors and giving directions, or escorting them to the area of the hospital they need to go.  Currently most escorts volunteer one day a week, but others volunteer several days a week or just one day a month.  Shifts are four hours in the morning or afternoon. 

Volunteers who deliver home-bound meals are a vital part of the hospital’s outreach services.  Throughout the pandemic, our homebound program continued to provide meals for residents who relied on the meal program.  The PCH Nutritional Services department makes nutritious meals which are delivered to the homes of our patients Monday through Friday.  Meals are delivered in bags that are placed on the porch or front entrance of homes in order to avoid unnecceasry contact with the deliverer and person delivering the meal.  Most meal delivery volunteers offer their assistance once a month, but a few volunteers deliver weekly.

Quad County Hospice volunteers are specially trained and assist our Hospice program by visiting hospice patients to give family members a needed respite from care of their loved one.  

Each person who volunteers receives a complimentary lunch on the day that they volunteer.  They may enjoy their free lunch in our Harvest Café or take the lunch home with them.  Currently the hospital is in need escorts and homebound meal deliverers.  Hospice volunteers are especially needed in the counties of Montgomery and Macoupin.  Anyone looking to help promote excellent patient care for our local hospital can call Carol Chandler at 562-6383 for more information on volunteer opportunities.     

Photo caption:
Pictured are Gary Ade and Butch Ludwig who volunteer at the front desk as patient escorts.  Butch and Gary are just a few of the many dedicated volunteers at PCH.