309. Balancing the Needs of Employees and Volunteers

What happens when a volunteer manager needs to balance the needs of volunteers and paid staff? At the Lloyd Moss Free Clinic Andrea SpringerCollins takes a straightforward approach based in clear communication. In this episode she shares her approach and the systems she’s implemented to successfully manage these relationships.

Over 25 years ago, the Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic began with medical and non-medical volunteers offering limited services two evenings a week in the Amy Guest Wing of the old Mary Washington Hospital. Over time, the Clinic has evolved into a unique and essential health care provider that is meeting a critical need in our community. As the demand for services ballooned and the number of volunteers has grown, the Clinic has relocated twice and greatly expanded its hours, services, and programs. 

Today, the Clinic operates five days a week and offers both day and evening appointments in a state-of-the-art facility. In 2018 our team of 560 volunteers, including 175 physicians and dentists, provided over 19,000 hours of care and services such as primary and specialty care, women’s health, dental care, mental health, nutrition education, and physical therapy. Patients have access to free diagnostics and specialized procedures (including surgery and chemotherapy) through Mary Washington Healthcare, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, and other essential community partners. 

Thanks to the volunteerism of local healthcare professionals and donations of in-kind goods and services, the Clinic’s annual budget of $2.2 million leveraged over $30 million of healthcare in 2017. The Clinic receives no federal support and depends on monetary contributions from individuals, organizations, and businesses to serve people in need each year.

Andrea shares her approach to balancing the needs of volunteers and the needs of paid staff to effectively deliver health care services to the community. It can be a delicate balance to match the right volunteer to the right role and staff supervisor and Andrea brings an optimistic and straightforward communication style to her work recruiting, screening, and orienting her highly skilled volunteers.

And, listen until the end to hear Andrea’s tips for staying centered and finding the necessary energy to continue to work with volunteers in a healthcare setting, during a pandemic.

For more information, visit https://mossfreeclinic.org/

For More:

For more information on creating volunteer management systems that work, check out Season 2 of the Time + Talent podcast, Episode 208: Transforming Your Volunteer Strategy from the Ground Up with Alison Jones-Nassar. 

Guest Bio:

Andrea SpringerCollins
Volunteer Coordinator
Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic

Andrea SpringerCollins joined Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic as Volunteer Coordinator in 2012. During that time she has coordinated monthly information sessions for prospective volunteers, facilitated volunteer staffing with the appropriate department managers.

She is responsible for recruiting volunteer providers including MD, DO, PA, NP, M/LCSW, DDS, RDH, and PharmD.She manages all aspects of coordinating medical volunteers including registering volunteer health care professional with the Virginia Division of Risk Management for immunity from liability, maintaining volunteer PII records and data entry, and evaluating volunteer/staff experience.

Andrea holds a Master’s of Arts Degree with emphasis in Communication from the University of Oklahoma, and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Minor- Vocal Music from Southern University A&M. 

You can find Andrea at [email protected].