Patient Education Network

Princess Margaret Hospital

Volunteer Program

Our volunteers play an important role as part of the health care team at PMH. We are becoming increasingly reliant on the generous gift of time that volunteers give, and are therefore developing specifically structured volunteer programs with well-defined goals. For example, in our volunteer-assisted strategy for the Patient Education Network at Princess Margaret Hospital, volunteers gain knowledge about:

• The mission and objectives of the program
• The resources available to cancer patients and family
• The challenges facing the cancer patient and family

And, they develop skills to:

• Support users of computer-based education program
• Manage resources in the Resource Centres
• Provide emotional support to the patient and family

Our volunteers in the Patient Education Network at the Princess Margaret Hospital are trained to help you find the information you need in the form that suits you the best. For example, patients and families may lack the computer skills necessary to benefit from the comprehensive electronic resources available to them at PMH. In order to provide responsive and immediate human support to users, we have developed a comprehensive and unique program to train and integrate our volunteers into the program.

Our volunteers put a "human face" on technology. Our Resource Centres have become friendly, supportive environments where waiting time can appear to pass more quickly and productively for patients and their family members. As this breast cancer patient using our library commented, “I wanted to look at genetics, treatment and diagnoses. I did look at these and other [sites] shown [to me] by a volunteer that I wouldn’t have accessed otherwise. “

Our team of 30 to 40 volunteers allows the Patient Education Network to provide the support that you need. If you would like more information about our volunteer training program or would like to join our team, please contact PMH Volunteer Services at 416-946-2072.

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