Hospice Volunteer Training Online Podcast - Episode 2: Site Update

The first hospice volunteer training online podcast was

released over a year ago. 

It has taken me that long to prove to the world that this

is not just another fly by night program, that quality and

integrity are vital to my business in order to educate

those who will be of service to hospice patients and families.

Everything finally fell into place.  Initially I read the

final essays of those taking the course and was in awe of

the "reasons" that people gave for taking the course.  It

looked like the program was making a significant difference

in the lives of those wishing to become hospice volunteers.

Next, I finally defined the benefit to hospices.  I knew

the benefits in my heart, but to hear the agencies who were

utilizing the program for their initial volunteer training to

really confirm that the program was on it's way to being a

legitimate, service oriented program that would ultimately

save hospices money and time while breathing new energy

into their follow up training with those who had taken

the course.

So here it is 16 months after the original podcast and I am

ready to update you on the status of the program.

*There are approximately 30 agencies now using the online

training. 

 

Each agency has it's own personalized site for

training their volunteers with a personalized certificate

of completion with the company's name and/or logo.  The

volunteer coordinator has administrative privileges and can

monitor their volunteers' progress and add users and grade

esssays.  They can also save or print the certificates.

For sites that only use the program every couple of months

or so, they are put on one web page as a sponsoring agency.

This page is not personalized with company logo, info, etc

but is a generic listing with an enrollment key so the

agency can approve/not approve the volunteers that wish to

take the course.  Unlike the personalized sites, the

sponsoring agency site has a generic certificate issued.

The volunteer coordinator has non-editing privileges and

can only view their volunteers but not edit any

information.

Only 2 sites have utilized the option to create their own

course for me to upload.  That's really okay as I had to

learn as well how to make the site flow easily with

additional material.

I discovered "inodes".  The courses were so full of

information and the individualized sites were full of

pictures and slides that I got a notice from my web host

that I had severely exceeded my inode limit.  It sounded

like a disease.  That's when I re-introduced myself to back

up plans.  I now have 2 different web hosts so that at any

time one site may go down or incur difficulties, in an

emergency I can go to the other site and immediately

(within hours) upload an agencies information so they can

continue training with a minor web address change.

 

I got critiqued! It wasn't really pretty but it got me lots of business.

I apparently use "me" or "my" too much in some places and

appearances lean toward this being a program for rural

areas only.  The good news is that this program is being

utilized in rural areas but just as much in heavily

populated areas and college students are the prime target

for participation.  They know the computer, they want their

resume to look really good by reflecting service training,

and they are more than full of the energy it takes to be a

great volunteer.

Benefits I never promoted.

I realized that all my agencies were getting my full

attention to any obstacles, questions or training. 

I didn't know I was a coach and counselor but looks like

that has played quite a role in this business when I talk

to volunteer coordinators.  I get to share ideas and then I

get to receive some great ideas to share with others.

I send blast messages on behalf of the agencies utilizing

the course.  In other words, if hospice a submits an ad on

craigslist for "volunteers wanted" - if its sent to me I

will send it to my mailing list and post to all my social

media sites.  There....I do use "my" and "me" too much!

I have been accused of lowering the value of the course by

not charging for the site set up and only charging $10 per

volunteer.  As I see more and more growth and a steady flow

of active agencies providing training I have to agree.  At

some point I will begin charging for the site set up but

for now I am just getting to the point where I can identify

my ideal client and something still considered new in the

volunteer training world has to complete it's cycle of

confirmation.  The site charges will happen, but just not

right now.  I want to be as fair as possible to those

agencies who are struggling financially to at least be able to

recruit and train a vast volunteer force.  In my thought,

the volunteer can make an agency successful if trained

appropriately.  Marketing, patient care, companionship,

administrative duties, and the intention of love for

service are invaluable.

 

Loving automation; Most of the programs run very well

without my assistance.  The volunteer signs up for their

user account and begins the course.  The volunteer

coordinator grades final essays and prints the certificate.

In a perfect world I would have nothing else to do.  But as

life goes, challenges appear and I have learned that each

one can be addressed to the satisfaction of the volunteer,

the agency and yes even to myself.

The service agreement is easily completed and emailed, the

billing is done monthly and sent by email, customers can

pay by paypal, checck or money order.  Volunteers can

always call me or contact me by email for assistance and I

send out regular messages regarding updates. 

 

The most fun I have is congratulating the volunteer coordinator

on a job well done.  When I see 10 new volunteers trained in a

month, I know that coordinator has put in lots of hours,

blood, sweat and tears to make it happen.  I want them to

know I have noticed.

It's been one of the most fulfilling years in my life.  A

new business, a new grandson, and a motivation for creating

the best product I possibly can to assist in an economical 

investment for hospice agencies and to enable in others

the power of being of service.

Next time we will discuss how to set up your site for your

agency.  This includes

1. Getting administration to approve participation in the program 

2. The service agreement 

3. What's needed to get your site up and ready for training.

4.  How to create a new user account and receive administrative privileges.

I would like to end with one of the stories that has gotten

the most attention this week on my blog posts. With

Memorial Day being observed at the beginning of the week,

the story was very appropriate.

http://volunteertraining.posterous.com/cornerstone-

salutes-honoring-us-veterans

Join me next time for "Setting Up Your Personalized Site". 

Anyone interested in utilizing the hospice volunteer

training online program can join in and ask questions.  The

number to call is  (724) 444-7444 and the Call ID: 37502

The live call is scheduled for Fridays at 12 noon.

Posted via web from Hospice Volunteer Training Online