Trends in volunteerism. A new way of managing volunteers furthers providers' goals.

Today's volunteers come from many walks of life--professionals, children, people with disabilities, and skilled tradespeople. Each has a special skill to offer in the spirit of volunteerism. To take advantage of the increasing number of volunteers, hospitals must begin to form more meaningful alliances with their communities. Healthcare volunteerism creates opportunities for renewed linkages between the community and the hospital. Hospitals should also look even closer to home--their own neighborhoods. Often staff fail to see their neighbors' failing conditions as services for the disadvantaged have declined. This creates ill will. But some hospitals are avoiding this by recruiting volunteers to help improve the lives of their yards, fixing up their houses, and fulfilling other needs. Another area where volunteers can be beneficial to the hospital is in political activism. Healthcare leaders, however, must discuss political issues with volunteers, and not keep them in the dark on issues of importance. Many volunteers are active politically and can give healthcare a voice in crucial matters.