This page is devoted to the management of volunteer programs in health care settings.
With our economy in its current state, it seems as though there is no industry that is untouched. You would think that people still get sick so healthcare should not be impacted to any degree, right? Wrong! Healthcare has also experienced the current economic downturn. And while people are still getting sick, there are some very definitive reasons that healthcare is also being affected.
- More people are delaying any elective surgeries.
- People have lost their health insurance.
- People are delaying going to the doctor with any illness often ending up sicker in the long run.
Consider some implications for hospital volunteer directors/managers/leaders?
- Positions are being eliminated – We have often read/heard that the director/manager of volunteers is the first position to go. And while there may be cost savings, it’s very shortsighted. Just when other positions are cut, volunteers will be in greater demand because more departments will be looking to volunteers to help provide services. With an increased need for volunteers doing more things, who will lead the effort?
- Recruitment should be easier – While all the people who have experienced the economic downturn first hand by being laid off, a percentage of those folks will turn to the healthcare field because it is perceived as one that will be stable in years to come. After all, the largest percentage of the population is now hitting the retirement years, aging into a time when healthcare will be accessed more. As such, be ready, willing and able to embrace those who are likely to start knocking on your door.
- Gift shop sales are down – Like any retail establishment, gift shop sales are down. The challenge is to keep the gift shop looking fresh, turning merchandise as often as possible. Most hospital gift shops enjoy their employees as loyal returning customers but if they see the same old thing visit after visit for long periods of time, they will quit coming.
- Guild/auxiliary revenue will decline – Most gift shop profits belong to the hospital guild/auxiliary or foundation. And if sales are down in the gift shops, then it’s only logical for revenue to be down as well.
- Declining revenue will not allow hospital donations as in the past – It goes without saying that if guilds/auxiliaries and foundations are experiencing a shortfall in revenue, they will be unable to provide dollars back to hospital programs and services as they have in past years.
April column: thoughts on how directors/managers can keep their jobs.
A Service of MBA
Publishing-A subsidiary of Macduff/Bunt Associates All materials copyright
protected ©2011
821 Lincoln St., Walla Walla, WA 99362 (509) 520-0244 FAX: (509) 526-5595 EMAIL: mba@bmi.net
Twitter: http://twitter.com/NLMacduff
The content of all linked sites are beyond the control Volunteer Today and the newsletter assumes no responsibility for their content.