Bethesda Brunswick Burtonsville Bowie College Pk. Greenbelt Hyattsville Kensington Landover Lanham Largo Mont. Vlge. New Car'ton Olney Port Towns Poolesville Potomac Riverdale Rockville Silver Spr. Volunteers provide patients with a friend at Silver Spring's Holy Cross Hospital Faced with emergency room services stretched to the limit and chronic nursing shortages, hospitals across the country are struggling to find ways to keep patients happy without spending more money. After a year of brainstorming ideas, hospital administrators launched the Patient Care Advocates Program in the emergency room about nine months ago.
Volunteers range from high school students to retirees.
The results have been nothing short of outstanding, say hospital officials. Customer service is such an important part of what we do in the emergency room, but the nurses don't have time to address all of the non-medical needs that come up. We don't have time to hold a patient's hand or fluff a pillow anymore, but patients still need that kind of care and attention. This program is designed to address those needs. According to customer service surveys, patient satisfaction has improved and the program has received high marks.