Cayuga Medical Center’s Emergency Department in Ithaca, New York, heard common feedback from patients— “We feel uninformed”—and a recurring refrain from doctors and nurses: “We’re so busy.” Those sentiments, along with a larger effort to improve patient experience and lighten the load for emergency department providers, inspired the facility’s ED, which is managed by Emergency Consultants, to start what is now the Patient Care Advocate Team (PCAT) student volunteer program. The program is a partnership between Cayuga Medical Center, Cornell Public Service Center, and Ithaca College’s Office of Civic Engagement. Beginning in the fall of 2014, the three groups teamed up to recruit Cornell University and Ithaca College students to volunteer in the emergency department. By February 2015, they had 50 students working in the ED throughout the week in three or four-hour blocks and were on their way to having happier, more comfortable patients. Today, the program continues to evolve and expand. Click here to continue >>
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