Volunteer Assignments at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital for Week of Jan. 26

Volunteers kept essential services running at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital during the week of Jan. 26, filling roles that range from patient navigation to oncology support and door staffing. The hospital published the volunteer assignments on Jan. 23, and the roster details who covered each station so patients, visitors and staff know who is on duty.

Gift Shop Chair Vicky Scott led the retail volunteers, with Cynthia Benton, Kay Vanatta and Linda Swisher staffing the shop to provide comfort items and convenience for families. Ambulatory Surgery Transporters Carmen Borrero and Bev Hurst helped move same-day surgical patients through pre-op and recovery areas, supporting clinic flow and reducing wait times. Don Rhoads and Susanna Sherrill staffed the ER entrance, greeting arrivals and helping direct people to the right care. Patient guides Herta Dech and Rama Brennan worked the halls to assist visitors and help patients find appointments and departments. Clinical support volunteers included Lynn Stremming in Oncology, Nannette Klemmensen in Rehabilitation Services and Teresa Nash in Patient Financial Services.

For Morgan County residents, transparency in the week’s assignments matters. Knowing who is scheduled at the gift shop, entrance desks or as a guide helps family caregivers plan visits, improves wayfinding for patients with mobility or cognitive needs, and clarifies where volunteers support hospital staff. Volunteers such as transporters and guides perform tasks that directly affect throughput - a steady volunteer presence can shorten wait times for procedures, ease pressure on nursing staff and make appointments less stressful for older adults and low-income patients who often rely on extra assistance.

The volunteer program also highlights broader policy and equity issues in local health care. Volunteer labor supports daily operations, but sustained reliance on unpaid help raises questions about staffing, compensation and access to consistent services for vulnerable patients. As Jacksonville Memorial balances budgets and staffing, clear schedules and role descriptions help ensure volunteers augment rather than replace paid positions and that critical services remain reliable.

Residents interested in volunteering or seeking shift information should contact the hospital volunteer office for orientation and scheduling details. Continued community involvement keeps Jax Memorial’s doors friendly and functional; for patients and families in Morgan County, those hands and faces at the entrance and in waiting rooms can make the difference between confusion and care.