Longmont United Hospital

Imagine if the nurse who came to take your blood pressure knew you had a special recipe for chocolate cookies, or that you were a star player on your high school baseball team. What if your doctor asked you which word you spelled to win your elementary school spelling bee in 1968? Would you feel more connected to the person attending to your medical needs? Longmont United Hospital volunteer June Berlinger wants to connect you to your healthcare team by helping you share your story. Mrs. Berlinger has been a volunteer at the hospital for three years. She brings a wealth of knowledge and compassion to LUH as a retired nurse with a lifetime of experience working in hospitals, hospice and teaching nursing. The time Mrs. Berlinger spent in 2011 with her mother in a long-term care facility made her realize the power of stories in a healthcare setting. "I knew there was something to this idea of bringing the patient's story to life for staff," Mrs. Berlinger says. "They need to see the patient in room five with Parkinson's disease as an individual with an interesting and a full life filled with family, friends and many rich experiences." So Mrs. Berlinger wrote her mother's story about being the homecoming queen more than 70 years ago; an exceptional seamstress; and a former hospice volunteer. With her mother's permission she posted the story on the door and soon her mom was sharing those experiences with nurses and staff. AGENTS OF HEALING At LUH, Mrs. Berlinger and Michelle Whitmore met with Laura Kinder, Director of Volunteer Services, to discuss the importance of capturing patient stories. Together they launched the Storycatchers Volunteer Program in 2012. In January 2014, Mrs. Berlinger worked with a retired English professor, in an effort to blend skills, ideas and talents to enhance Storycatchers and make it blossom. The employees at LUH embraced the concept, and Mrs. Berlinger and other volunteers began listening to patients' stories, writing them, giving them to the patients, and encouraging them to share with their families and the healthcare providers caring for them. "Patients told us that this experience validated them as a person and helped them feel more in control of their care," Mrs. Berlinger says. "Sharing stories has served to lift patients' spirits and open the door to conversations that are important to the patient." INTERNATIONAL STAGE Since the hospital is a Planetree Designated ® Patient-Centered Hospital, we put patients' needs first and believe illness can be a transformational experience for patients, families and caregivers. This fall, at the Planetree International Conference, Mrs. Berlinger will share the Storycatchers experience with other healthcare facilities and accept an award for "Best Practice." Mrs. Berlinger's husband Tom, is also an LUH volunteer with an extensive background in writing. He helps in the editing of patient stories and also assists the LUH Marketing Department by editing a number of their internal and external publications. Stories can connect patients with doctors, nurses and hospital staff. The Storycatcher USE YOUR TALENTS, DONATE YOUR TIME You can make a difference in someone's life by volunteering at Longmont United Hospital. Opportunities are available every day of the week in a variety of areas. Here are just a few options: • Art cart • Entertainment cart • Main welcome desk • Messenger service • Music services • Patient Ambassadors • Therapy Animals in Loving Spaces (TAILS) To become an important part of the hospital team, go to luhcares.org/about-us/volunteers and fill out an application. 303-651-5111 LUHCARES.ORG / 7

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