Regional West Medical Center
4021 Avenue B
Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69361
(308) 630-1271

At Regional West, committed volunteers have been a proud part of our heritage for over 56 years. Our volunteers come from all corners of the community and represent a variety of professions, age groups and physical abilities, as well as ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Over 400 volunteers donate approximately 45,000 volunteer hours to the hospital each year.

Regional West offers a wide variety of opportunities for those wishing to volunteer their time and talents. Volunteers work at hospital information centers and the surgical waiting room; deliver patient mail, magazines and flowers; buy for, manage and clerk in the Gift Shop; work in the cardiac rehab unit; buy for and create silk flower arrangements to sell in the Gift Shop; work at the immunization clinic; and assist in the Regional West Foundation department, Cancer Treatment Center and the Breast Health Center. Volunteers also make Pediatric Pals for pediatric patients, do creative mending and sewing, make lap robes, knit baby booties and crib blankets, deliver magazines and shred paper.

Why should I volunteer?
The Volunteers and Friends of Regional West organization is dedicated to furthering the education of future health care professionals in the region. The group annually funds $10,000 in RN scholarships for students enrolled at the western division of the Nebraska School of Nursing in Scottsbluff. The number of scholarships range from 10 to 15 with amounts from $500 to $1,000. A total of $2,100 in scholarships is awarded to students in their second semester of Western Nebraska Community College LPN School. The money is awarded in three scholarships of $700 each.

Through volunteer efforts, $3,000 is also provided annually to help underwrite the training of area emergency medical technicians.

Proceeds from The Gift Shop, book and jewelry sales, the Tabletop Fashion Tea and the coffee cart all contribute to the success of the volunteers’ efforts.

How to get involved
The role of the volunteer is to be of support to families, patients and staff, but not to replace staff. Volunteers are bound by the same code of ethics and confidentiality as paid staff and are also required to take the same annual Joint Commission and HIPAA tests. Before beginning work at Regional West, volunteers are required to go through a volunteer orientation, which covers all codes and policies. Volunteers need to be at least 14 years old and willing to take a short orientation course.

Linda Mai is director of volunteer services at Regional West Medical Center. If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information about Regional West's volunteer program, contact Linda Mai at (308) 630-1271.