Longview, TX — East Texans who want a hospital volunteer opportunity doing something more challenging than answering phones or delivering flowers will soon have a chance to help out in the emergency room of Good Shepherd Medical Center.

Dr. Jeff McWilliams and volunteer coordinator Pat Watson are teaming up to provide a program which will put volunteers — who will serve as patient advocates — in the emergency room during as many times as possible.

“Ideally, we’d like to have volunteers in the ER 24/7,” McWilliams said. “We realize that’s not likely to happen, but it’s what we’re aiming for.”

While the program is open to anybody who is at least a senior in high school and passes the background check and interview process, McWilliams said it might be especially beneficial to high school or college students who are considering a career in medicine or to adults who are thinking of making a mid-life career switch to a health-related field.

Read more from the Longview News-Journal.