SEATTLE, June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The Volunteer Services program at the
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) has won a statewide excellence award
for promoting a caring environment. The second-annual award was given by
the Washington State Society of the Directors of Volunteer Services.
The SCCA volunteer program provides social, practical and emotional
support to cancer patients and their family members who have moved to
Seattle from around the world to access specialized care. Services include
providing transportation to and from the airport and the grocery store, and
taking family members and patients out for activities such as visiting
museums and other local attractions. Volunteers also visit patients when
they are admitted to the hospital. Volunteers have been trained in food
safety and dietary requirements for patients and may offer to make a meal
for a patient and family, or take them to their favorite local restaurant.
There are about 80 volunteers at any one time. Many speak second
languages and represent other cultures to help bridge the gap between
health-care providers and family-support systems.
"Our patients are here as a last hope for live-saving treatment and to
contribute to the ongoing research to find cures for cancer," said Erica
Karlovits, Volunteer Services program manager. "They are often here for
four to six months of treatment and typically come with the entire family.
Patients are far from home, in unfamiliar surroundings and battling for
their life. Our volunteers provide friendship, compassion, and assistance
to the entire family."
Volunteers are matched with patients and families based on as many
commonalities as possible, such as religion, culture, language, hobbies,
occupation, gender, ethnicity and needs that match volunteer availability.
The assignment extends for the length of treatment.
"This volunteer program benefits the health-care organization as a
whole, and is unique in itself and one that we are not aware of at any
other cancer center or hospital," said Sue Oliver, the society president.
"This is a win- win for everyone: patients, volunteers and the hospital."
Note to editors and reporters: Interviews with volunteers and staff can
be arranged by contacting Dean Forbes at (206) 667-2896.
About the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, established in 1998, unites the adult
and pediatric cancer-care services of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research
Center, University of Washington Academic Medical Center and Children's
Hospital and Regional Medical Center. A major focus of the SCCA is to speed
the transfer of new diagnostic and treatment techniques from the research
setting to the patient bedside while providing premier, patient-focused
cancer care. Patients who come to the SCCA receive the latest
research-based cancer therapies as well as cutting-edge treatments for a
number of non-malignant diseases under development by its partner
organizations. The SCCA has three clinical-care sites: an outpatient clinic
on the Fred Hutchinson campus, a pediatric- inpatient unit at Children's
and an adult-inpatient unit at UW Medical Center. For more information
about the SCCA, visit http://www.seattlecca.org.
Contact:
Dean Forbes, (206) 667-2896
dforbes@fhcrc.org
SOURCE Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
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Related links:
http://www.fhcrc.org
http://www.seattlecca.org/
CONTACT:
Dean Forbes of Seattle Cancer Care Alliance,
+1-206-667-2896 or dforbes@fhcrc.org
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