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To set the scene: my situation is such that my hospital, Mercy Hospitals in Bakersfield, does not have a volunteer services manager, but does have an auxiliary. As president of the auxiliary, I do not have the same role as a volunteer services manager, which has made it difficult to help our volunteers navigate this pandemic.
As part of a major health care system, Dignity Health, guidance for returning volunteers is universal for all 150-plus system hospitals. Before returning volunteers to the hospital, the COVID positivity percentage rate must be below a rate that is specific to each hospital community for a minimum of 30 days. Once these criterion are met, volunteers can begin returning. However, additional restrictions will be enforced, including age, pre-existing conditions, hospital service areas, local health department approval, and training. With the percentages currently above the desired rate and our county currently in the “purple” tier, it is unknown when volunteers will return.