Bloomerang Volunteer app & kiosk streamlines volunteer management
Key Nonprofit Highlights
The George Washington University Hospital delivers top-quality healthcare with advanced technology and world-class service. Located near Washington, DC, they serve a diverse patient base, including local residents and global leaders, while supporting education and research. The Women’s Board helps manage volunteers who provide support throughout the hospital.
GW Hospital replaced their manual, time-consuming volunteer management processes with Bloomerang Volunteer, which includes automated applications, mass communication tools, self-scheduling, a mobile app, and a kiosk check-in system. They significantly improved efficiency and communication, streamlining operations for their 140+ volunteers. Volunteers benefit from real-time updates, access to resources, and seamless check-in features, while staff save time with automated processes and improved record-keeping. The new system has enhanced workflow, reduced administrative burden, and better supported the hospital’s growing volunteer team.
Challenge
Old volunteer management processes were manual and time-consuming
GW Hospital previously used a volunteer management system that was inefficient and heavily reliant on manual processes for applications, communication, onboarding, and scheduling. “Our processes, applications, communication, volunteer onboarding, and scheduling were all manual and extremely time-consuming,” said Gini Douglas, Patient Experience & Volunteer Supervisor. To better manage their growing volunteer team and streamline operations, they sought a more efficient solution. “We needed a solution for our growing community of varying branches of volunteer services,” explained Douglas. “I was looking for a system that could provide the services and flexibility required to cultivate organizational efficiency for programs and initiatives throughout the hospital.”
Solution
Optimize volunteer management with Bloomerang Volunteer’s mobile app and kiosk
The GW Hospital chose Bloomerang Volunteer as their volunteer management solution to reduce administrative time, streamline volunteer onboarding, and increase communication. The key features included automated applications, mass communication tools, secure peer-to-peer messaging, self-scheduling, and a user-friendly interface for staff and volunteers. The GW Hospital started implementing Bloomerang Volunteer with supporters from the moment they applied, with the mobile app enhancing real-time communication and peer connections. “Volunteers are acclimated with the software the minute they become interested in joining our organization and apply,” said Douglas. “I encourage volunteers to download the Bloomerang Volunteer app on their phones. It is a great way for them to reach me in real-time and connect with their volunteer peers.” They also had better access to necessary resources and documents with the mobile app, including “program fundamentals, task checklist, training guides, assignment expectations, safety reminders, and chain of escalation for direction or to review during downtime,” according to Douglas.
The kiosk check-in system ensured accurate record-keeping, attendance tracking, and workflow efficiency, both on-site and at off-site events. “We appreciate the kiosk because it promotes a seamless workflow for members of our team using the feature,” explained Douglas. “The Bloomerang Volunteer kiosk is located in our volunteer office, which is a central location accessed to begin and end a shift. The kiosk clock-in feature is the perfect tool to promote record keeping, attendance accountability, and help our team identify volunteers on-site at any given assignment area. The mobile check-in is convenient and practical for our volunteers, who provide support at off-site locations and participate in community events.”
Results
Bloomerang Volunteer tools improve communication with 140+ volunteers
In addition to the enhancements Bloomerang Volunteer’s mobile app and kiosk have made to the volunteer experience, its application screening and message broadcasting have also greatly improved employee workload and saved countless hours for the GW Hospital team. “Our application process consists of a customizable online application and supporting documentation: resume, letter of recommendation, and credentials,” said Douglas. “With Bloomerang Volunteer, I do not see a candidate until the application is complete and all required documents are uploaded.”
With Bloomerang Volunteer, GW Hospital can more effectively manage and communicate with their 140+ volunteers serving 29,000+ shifts. “I can efficiently filter communications to small and large groups. Real-time communications vary from general blasts (time changes, holiday recognition, and organization updates), reminders (dress code, behavior, and invitations for snacks/treats), alerts (system downtimes), and recruitment for unscheduled events,” said Douglas. “Bloomerang Volunteer has made my life 100 times better compared to our previous volunteer management system!”
