The Hospital Awards for Volunteer Excellence (H.A.V.E.) program was established by the American Hospital Association Board of Trustees to help hospitals attract and retain volunteers by recognizing outstanding contributions of organized volunteer programs.

You can find out more information about the H.A.V.E program and how to nominate a program at the Association for Healthcare Volunteer Resource Professionals website (www.ahvrp.org) under Education and Awards or Auxilians & Volunteers Links.

This year, 2010, Michigan received one H.A.V.E Award.  MAHA is so very proud!  Here it is:

In-Service Hospital Volunteer Programs
“No One Dies Alone-Comfort Companions”
St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, Pontiac, MI

Studies show that approximately 50% of all people in the United States will die in a hospital and 25% of people will die in a nursing home. At St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital (SJMO), 15% of those dying patients will be alone at the time of death. Another study show close to 40% of all patients have severe pain prior to death. If no one is at their side to call the nurse, the pain will persist or even worsen with no relief. In 2004, SJMO did a survey of nursing staff that care for patients who died. One of the key findings was the suffering of nursing staff when they were caring for a dying patient who was all alone. The demands of the nurse’s regular rotation of patients and that of a dying patient were extremely stressful. In 2005, the Volunteer Comfort Companion program “No One Dies Alone”, was created. With 30 trained volunteers on hand, a member of the palliative care team would identify a patient who was all alone and at the end of life and would place a volunteer at their side. The training is unique and combines development of self-awareness of personal feelings regarding death and dying with gentle ways to assist these special patients. Volunteers are also educated on what typically happens physically, emotionally and spiritually at end of life. The volunteers ensure comfort and peace and eliminate two of the most common fears of people and terminal illness – dying in pain and dying alone.