Holland Hospital honors Mike Keyes' 15 years of service
HOLLAND, Mich., Nov. 26, 2024 — November, a month traditionally marked by harvest festivals and expressions of thanks, has long been a time for reflection and gratitude. Holland Hospital is recognizing long-time volunteer Mike Keyes who, over the last 15 years, has given countless hours of service to the hospital and its patients.
Keyes’ journey began as a patient at Holland Hospital in 2008 where he experienced firsthand the compassion and care provided by the hospital staff. He was admitted to Holland Hospital for 10 days before being moved to an outpatient care facility for three weeks.
“Holland Hospital saved my life,” he reflected. Following his health care journey, Keyes began participating in rehabilitation, and it was upon the recommendation of his speech therapist that he began volunteering. “I thought it would be good to keep busy,” he laughed.
Over the course of his service, Keyes’ contributions have made a significant impact on the lives of countless patients and their families. His time has been spent volunteering in Errand and Escort, which is dedicated to helping hospital guests and employees with a variety of duties, from running food trays, supplies or lab specimens to transporting patients.
“Volunteering is like paying back the hospital and giving back to the community. It’s very fulfilling,” he said.
For Keyes, his dedication to volunteerism is also a family affair. Following in their dad’s footsteps, both of his kids volunteered their time at the hospital while in high school. “One of my sons did it for two years,” he shared.
He explained that, because he was once a patient himself, he has greater empathy and a deeper understanding of what patients may be going through. “It’s a great way to give back to those in a situation who may benefit from hope or perspective.”
Keyes is among the more than 200 dedicated volunteers who enhance patient care and hospital efficiency at Holland Hospital. By providing essential support services such as patient navigation, clerical assistance, and specialized care, volunteers make a significant impact on the hospital community.
“Volunteers are an essential piece of the team at Holland Hospital,” said Megan Cadle, lead volunteer coordinator at Holland Hospital. “Our volunteers help provide support to our patients, visitors and staff and help ensure an exceptional patient experience. I am so thankful for the selfless volunteers who dedicate their time to our organization.”
Volunteers can get involved in a variety of areas, from assisting patients and visitors by providing directions, answering questions, or escorting them to appointments. They also support staff by handling clerical tasks and contributing to retail operations. Volunteers can also contribute in specialized care settings like home health, urgent care, and telehealth.
Keyes shared that sincerity is a strong quality prospective volunteers should possess. “People can understand and feel that genuine attitude,” he explained. This positive outlook is evident in his interactions with staff and patients, his warm and caring demeanor is among one of the many things that makes him so beloved by staff and patients.
“Mike always has a sunny disposition, and the staff and patients always say how wonderful he is. We are grateful for his contributions and for him consistently going above and beyond to make a difference,” shared Cadle.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Holland Hospital, visit hollandhospital.org/volunteer.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Jessica Meldrum, MS, APR
jmeldrum@hollandhospital.org
Nov. 26, 2024