KSDVS

Healthcare facilities are facing new challenges: They must provide high-quality services with shrinking resources in a highly competitive and constantly changing healthcare milieu.  Under these conditions of reduced resources and increased need for community support, an effective volunteer program takes on heightened significance.

Current competition for volunteer support requires that Directors of Volunteer Services be proficient in the traditional sense of management - planning, organizing, directing, and controlling.  In addition, they must be experts in human resources management with emphasis on the human element.  The goal is to integrate volunteers into services that are satisfying and productive.

The Director of Volunteer Services must be empathetic and effective with persons of diverse ages, backgrounds, and skills.  The director should have firm understanding of human behavior and motivation and, of equal importance, should be a skilled communicator.