WESTFIELD — Baystate Noble Hospital is resuming its volunteering program after it was put on pause during the coronavirus pandemic for the volunteers’ safety.

The program has more than 20 regular volunteers and six student interns in different departments throughout the Westfield hospital. More volunteers are needed. There are several volunteer roles at the hospital that range from volunteering in the emergency room to being a greeter and way finder. A wide variety of people can serve as volunteers: high school students ages 16 and up that are interested in the medical field, retired nurses and physicians, even regular people interested in health care.

 Michele LaPrade, the new volunteer coordinator at Baystate Noble, stated, “We ask for a six-month commitment, minimum, with three to four hours a week, minimum. There are no particular skills that are required. We want to make sure that our volunteers are doing something that they find engaging and rewarding.” She continued, “It’s our top priority to provide our volunteers with a great experience while volunteering here at Noble. We want them to enjoy what they are doing, feel they are making a difference, and have that wonderful sense of knowing they brightened someone’s day.”

Lissette Grimaldi, chief administrative officer and chief nursing officer at the hospital, added, “Volunteers play a vital role at Baystate Noble Hospital. They improve the quality of patient care and assist hospital employees in caring for patients and visitors. They make a real difference in our patients’ lives. We are thankful for the positive impact they make each and every day.”

Baystate Noble has recently brought on a new volunteer in its pet therapy program and has started new volunteers for greeting and way finding at the Bronson Rehabilitation Unit and the Impatient Unit. LaPrade said, “We are getting applications in, but feel now is the time, because the volunteer program is fully ramped back in place, to reach out to our community and the surrounding towns to bring back some of our volunteers that we had before the [coronavirus] pandemic, but also see if we can encourage other folks to come volunteer.”

She is looking for people who want to do something and to help support their patients, families and their staff. The hospital is taking a look at the roles that are in place, because it’s been a few years since they have been reviewed and working with management to revise them.

LaPrade’s immediate need is to place volunteer greeters at key locations where patients and visitors can find it confusing to locate a particular department. She would also like to bring some volunteers onto the treatment floors to be able to help with the patients and take some of the burden off the staff’s shoulders. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the volunteering program brought more than 50 volunteers into the hospital. The program’s current goal is to get back up to that 50 by mid-year, and ultimately have 100 volunteers in the hospital.

“We want to bring back a robust program that helps support our staff, provides that extra level of comfort and care and help give our patients and families a great experience,” LaPrade said. “This is what it is all about, come join our fantastic team and support your community hospital.”

To apply online, visit www.baystatehealth.org/volunteer. For a paper application or any other questions, call LaPrade at 571-0573.