National Healthcare Volunteer Week is April 23-29, 2017, and Coliseum Health System is using this week to say “Thank you” to their hospital volunteers at Coliseum Medical Centers and Coliseum Northside Hospital.  Coliseum Health System will recognize their volunteers at a luncheon on May 11.
 
Collectively, Coliseum Health System volunteers donated over 10,000 hours of their time in 2016. Throughout the year, volunteers for Coliseum Medical Centers and Coliseum Northside Hospital help with various hospital activities and raise money through vendor and gift shop sales. Funds collected in 2016 benefitted community charities and funded ten $1,000 scholarships for local students who are studying in a healthcare-related field.
 
In 2016, the newest volunteer initiative to launch was pet therapy.  This program allows registered therapy animals to visit patients in the hospital.  Patti Jones, pet therapy volunteer at Coliseum Health System, said, “Pet therapy helps in so many ways to bring comfort to the patient and to their family.   Studies show that interacting with a pet can help to relieve anxiety and reduce blood pressure.”