Fairview Lakes Health Services salutes the 288 volunteers who enhance the health care provided to our community, donating a record-breaking 35,613 hours of service last year.

If you're a patient or visitor to Fairview Lakes Medical Center, a volunteer may be one of the first people you see. Volunteer Coordinator Jane Denovchek points out that volunteers at Fairview Lakes Medical Center greet patients and visitors at clinic and emergency entrance information desks, triage patients in the emergency department and urgent care, and assist patients and visitors in same-day surgery and The BirthPlace. They escort diagnostic imaging and oncology/infusion therapy patients, help hospital visitors and serve as parking valets and gift shop cashiers.

"You'll find volunteers in more than a dozen different areas at the medical center in Wyoming and at the Fairview Chisago Lakes Clinic and HomeCaring & Hospice in Chisago City," says Denovchek, "But not all volunteers are greeters and escorts. Many serve 'behind the scenes' to provide ongoing and temporary support."

Denovchek says that, in addition to regularly scheduled volunteers, "We frequently call on an additional pool of volunteers to help with annual community health outreach events and auxiliary programs plus special activities like open houses, health fairs and our 10th anniversary celebrations." Volunteers also support Fairview Lakes' hospice patients, Meadows on Fairview residents and sustain the Fairview Lakes Auxiliary. No matter what their role, volunteers find joy in their work and many say they get as much fun from volunteering as the give to others.

Fairview Lakes is currently seeking volunteers for The BirthPlace, the emergency department and diagnostic imaging. Persons interested in volunteering are asked to call 651-982-7774 or 651-982-7775 for an application packet and to reserve a spot in a spring/summer volunteer orientation.