Volunteer Information

• Why become a volunteer?
• Top Ten Reasons to Volunteer
• Benefits of volunteering at Kaiser
• Requirements to become a volunteer
• Volunteer Orientation
• Annual Training
• Performance Improvement Initiatives
• Important information you must know about computer access at KP Santa Clara
• Guidelines
• Time Cards
• Absences
• Dress Code
• Parking
• Staff Contacts
• Dawn Thompson, Volunteer Manager
• Ange Peebles, Site Coordinator
• Commonly Used Acronyms
• Tip of the Month

  Why Become a Volunteer?

  Opportunities abound for those who like to make new friends and have fun while serving as a valuable resource at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara. While you are helping others you will learn and develop new skills, talk to a wide group of people, and in some of the tasks - exercise.
  
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  Top 10 Reasons to Volunteer

  1. You meet TERRIFIC people
  2. It's EASY - many ways to participate
  3. You GAIN professional experience and training
  4. Volunteering looks GREAT on your resume
  5. You can DISCOVER hidden talents
  6. You gain valuable EXPERIENCE helping others
  7. Voluntering is FUN
  8. Volunterering strengthens our COMMUNITY
  9. You learn new SKILLS
  10. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
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  Benefits

  • Pharmacy and Optical Discounts
  • Gift Shop Discounts
  • Award and Recognition Events
  • Educational Workshops
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  Requirements

  Minimum age for most volunteer positions is 16 years. Some positions require the volunteer to be 18 years or older. The minimum commitment is one shift a week for at least one year or more.
  1. Contact volunteer site coordinator to schedule an interview.
  2. Provide references as required.
  3. Complete health screening requirements which include:
     • TB test. If test is positive, a chest X-ray or completion of a questionnaire.
     • Lab tests that include immunity titers for chicken pox, measles, German measles, mumps, etc.
     • Hepatitis B shots (optional).
     • Hepatitis A shot (if working in Nutritional Services).
     • Attend mandatory orientation class
     • Complete service specific training.
     • Clear a background check.
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  Volunteer Orientation

  
  All volunteers are trained prior to beginning their service duties.
  New volunteers are required to attend an introductory orientation to the department and the medical center.
  New volunteers are also required to complete competency training in their service area and are mentored by a veteran volunteer in their service area.
  
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  Annual Training

  Each year all volunteers are required to attend a "review" in-service regarding the Volunteers Department and the Medical Center and to demonstrate competency in all safety issues, privacy and confidentiality, hospital codes and other procedures and policies. Volunteers are also required to fulfill an annual employee health screening. Return to top
  
  

  Performance Improvement Initiative

  GLOW

  Always ask for 2 patient identifiers
  • Must be used when delivering flowers and discharging patients.
  
  
  • Cannot be room number!
  
  
  • Confirm name of patient with the patient’s nurse.
  
  Verify patient name when introducing yourself.

  Hand Hygiene
  

  • Keep a clean pair of gloves in your pocket at all times.
    
  • Clean your hands BEFORE and AFTER patient contact EVEN IF YOU WEAR GLOVES.
    
  • Use ALCHOHOL GEL if hands are not visibly soiled OR Wash with SOAP AND WATER for 15 SECONDS if hands are visibly soiled, before and after eating, before and after personal hygiene, and after 8-10 uses of gel.
  • Wash hands with soap and water before and after eating.
  • Use gel before entering a patient's room and when leaving.

  Reduce the Risk of Harm from Falls

  • Be familiar with the Falls Protocol and understand that BLUE STARS are used to identify patients at risk for falls.
  
  
  • Blue Stars are found on patient room doors and above beds.
  
  
  • Check to see that the call light is within reach of the patient.
  
  
  • If you see a Falls Patient out of bed, get assistance.
  
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  Guidelines:

  Time Cards

  
  Signing in to the Volunteer Office allows us to keep track of your time and to manage volunteers throughout the facility. Also, in case of emergency, the office must know where you are. If you are an escort, sign for a mobile phone and also sign when it is returned to the office.
  
  

  Absences

  There will be times that will be difficult for you to make your scheduled volunteer shift at Kaiser Santa Clara. We ask that you do not email; but instead call the Volunteer Office (408-851-1717) so that we can replace your absence with another volunteer.
  
  

  Tip of the Month

  How to find a bilingual translator.

  If a non-English speaking member needs an in-house translator, a current list of staff members is available on the intranet site: Santa Clara medical Center.
  Click on "Clerical Tools" on the top menu tabs.
  Click on "Level 2 Qualified Bilingual Staff"
  2 pages of staff members will appear with their names, departments and telephone extension numbers.
  Call to see if the staff member is on duty and if he/she is available to assist.
  Give the staff member the exact location where to come for assistance and wait with the member until the staff member arrives.
  Then, offer to escort or assist the member after the staff interpreter determines what is required by the member.

  Dress Code

  All volunteers are to wear a Kaiser Permanente volunteer issued blue jacket. It must always be pressed and clean. A blue jacket is issued to each volunteer with a one-time donation of $15.00. Please wear only white slacks, shoes and shirts/blouses/sweaters beneath the jacket. Off-white clothing is not acceptable. Capris and shorts are not included as part of the standard KP volunteer uniform. Skirts are acceptable as long as they are just above the knee or longer. Please also remember that the standard uniform includes white pants. (White does not include khaki, off white, tan, cream, camel or gray colored pants.) Shoes must be closed toe and closed heeled. No clogs may be worn. Please - no fragrances, such as perfume, body sprays, after-shave lotion, etc.
  
  Your identification tag must be visible at all times. If you have misplaced or forgotten your tag, please ask for a temporary tag in the volunteer office before you begin your shift.
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  Parking

  All volunteers must park in Parking Garage 2 or on the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th floors of Parking Garage 1. A parking permit form must be completed and a parking sticker must be placed on cars identifying them as a volunteer car. This is very helpful in case someone hits or breaks into your car. Those volunteers with special needs, e.g., handicapped parking access, please come to the Volunteer Office and we will work with you on an individual basis. Surface parking is reserved only for Kaiser members and guests.
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  Access to KP computer systems

  Federal laws regarding HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) are increasing everyday and confidentiality is a critical part of our operations. This confidentiality includes you and your individual user ID and password. Protecting protected health information (PHI) is each of our responsibilities and you are held accountable, both legally and financially in keeping your User ID and password private. Accessing information on our KP systems is on a "need-to-know" basis only and only what the member has requested you to look up. Please remember that we, as individuals, can be fined up to $25,000.00 personally for a breech of confidentiality and the organization can be highly impacted with fines and other penalties.

  The following practices are important for every volunteer to follow:

  1. All personal USER ID's and passwords are to be kept private and confidential. Absolutely, do NOT share your computer access with anyone, even another volunteer.
  2. When sharing a workstation, once you have accessed the requested information, log off so that another volunteer can log on when needed.
  3. To keep your user id and password current, every volunteer must log on at least one time each time you are volunteering.
  4. Change your password (even if you are not requested to do so by the system) periodically to ensure confidentiality.
  5. Only access member information when being asked by the member.
  6. When looking up an appointment, you MUST request a photo id AND a medical record number for verification. If they do not have a photo id, please check with one of our staff for further assistance.
  7. Use the KP computer systems to only access KP information. KP computers are not for personal use including e-mail and non-Kaiser websites.

  Because of the accountability and regulatory standards all volunteers who access our KP computers are required to attend the Volunteer IT computer training. If you have not attended in the past or need to sign up, please contact the Volunteer Office at 408-851-9224 and ask to speak with Del Odle. He will get you scheduled. All new volunteers will be required to complete the IT computer training class prior to logging on to our computer systems.
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