Deaconess Hospital Rockwood Health System - American Cancer Society Resource Center

What is it?

The American Cancer Society (ACS) Resource Center was established at Deaconess Hospital in May 2006, in partnership with Deaconess Medical Center Volunteer Services and the Empire Health Services administration team. The ACS Resource Center is staffed solely by adult and college volunteers who are specially trained to provide multiple services to newly diagnosed cancer patients and their family members. Many of the ACS volunteers are cancer survivors.

Who is it for?

The ACS Resource Center provides service to the local community by utilizing trained volunteers who can provide materials, information on community resources and immediate access to cancer specialists through a designated ACS hotline or by researching information on the American Cancer Society web site. The volunteers are also trained to assist cancer patients with wigs and scarves if requested, and may also visit patients in their rooms upon request through the Reach To Recovery program.

Why do they do it?

By partnering with the ACS, Deaconess Hospital volunteers are providing a vital service to cancer patients and families with a convenient location right inside the hospital. They are able to service a greater number of people by providing them with a wide variety of resources and information specific to their diagnosis. Because many of the volunteers are cancer survivors, they are able to provide comfort and encouragement to patients and their families, thus making a personal connection to the community while providing information on treatment options, early detection and risk reduction, and programs for cancer patients and their families available within the community.

Impact

Since its opening in May 2006, the ACS Resource Center at Deaconess was recently ranked #1 within the organization’s 12-state Great West division for having seen the most newly diagnosed cancer patients, serving more than124 patients in the first quarter of 2007 alone. It also ranked #2 in the division for the number of cancer patients and families served by the Society’s programs and services. Because of the tremendous success of this program at Deaconess, Volunteer Services is in the process of opening a second ACS Resource Center at Valley Hospital.

Contact: Joey Frost
Director of Volunteer Services
Telephone: 509-473-3767
E-mail: FrostJ@empirehealth.org