The Methodist Hospital System. Leading Medicine
The Methodist Hospital System. Leading Medicine

San Jacinto Methodist Hospital

Featured Patient Programs

Cultivating Compassion with New Patient Care Program

Raggedy Ann Volunteers
Volunteers pose in their Raggedy Ann costumes. Top row, left to right: Edie Hackett, Rita McCarty, Barbara Ward. Bottom row, left to right: LeeAnn Arabie, Susan Whiteneck, Shandrekh Purdy.

To help lift patients’ spirits, San Jacinto Methodist Hospital recently implemented the Adventures in Caring program. Under the program, hospital employees volunteer to be the Raggedy Ann and Andy characters and visit with patients that are in need of friendly conversation.

Prior to visiting with patients, the Adventures in Caring volunteers complete a 30 hour training session on therapeutic listening skills. Raggedy Volunteers learn how to convey four life-affirming messages to patients and their families: attention, acknowledgment, affection and acceptance. In addition the Adventures in Caring volunteers work closely with nursing staff to help them choose which patients to visit. These visits should bring comfort, encouragement, and joy to those patients who might otherwise have no visitors.

Up to 30 percent of all patients in hospitals across the nation have no visitors. For some patients, a serious illness/injury can force them come to terms about issues that they would rather not think about. If the patient has no one to discuss these issues with, it can hinder both the physical and mental healing process — making the Adventures in Caring program an important part of the care giving experience.

Barbara Ward, a cardiology technician at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital and one of the Raggedy Volunteers, is excited about the opportunity to interact with patients in such a unique way. “I truly feel blessed to provide such a wonderful service to our patients. I look forward to seeing a patient´s face light up when I enter their room. It is an honor and a privilege and I hope it brings the patients joy and comfort,” said Ward. 

Lee Ann Arabie, Patient Access Coordinator and another Raggedy Volunteer Employee said, “Human interaction can be a great tool in the healing process. Patients need to feel compassion and affection in order to overcome their illness. I?m happy to help to be a part of such a wonderful and caring program.”

Adventures in Caring is a nonprofit organization based in Santa Barbara, California. Its mission is to lift the spirit of those who are seriously ill or injured and to cultivate compassion in health care. The program receives no governmental funding and is supported through private donations, private grants and the sales of its publications.

For more additional information about San Jacinto Methodist Hospital’s Adventures in Caring Program please call 281-420-8812.