For obvious enough reasons, the emergency ward does not top most peoples’ lists of all-time favorite places. Ninety-one-year-old Mel Hoiseth is a conspicuous exception. He enjoys – even looks forward to – spending long stretches of time in Fairview Southdale Hospital’s emergency ward. 

Hoiseth hasn’t been in any accidents lately, nor is he suffering from a chronic condition … unless one would classify a “larger-than-average heart” as a chronic condition. Hoiseth is one of the caring and dedicated people working part time in the army of volunteers that augment the paid staff at Fairview Hospital. With nearly 23 years of experience under his belt to date, he is one of the most experienced.
 

Hoiseth’s relationship with the facility dates back to 1990 and one of the toughest periods of his life, when his wife, Lorette, passed away at Fairview after an illness. Bereaved as he was, Hoiseth found much-needed comfort in the compassion of the staff and volunteers around him. He knew he would never forget that support.
 

A few months later, a golf buddy affiliated with the hospital suggested that, since he was already retired, Hoiseth might consider joining that same corps of volunteers. He looked into the matter and, before he knew it, was helping out a full 16 hours a week.
Hoiseth had worked for several decades as a postman, and began his “volunteer career” on a somewhat parallel note. “I started with running errands,” he recalled. “It’s a big place, so they send people to the blood bank, to the lab or to the X-ray facilities for this or for that.”
 

Errands are still part of his job description, but Mel has since branched out into duties centered more on the patient and visitor experience. This is the work he enjoys most. “Depending on the day and where the greatest need is, I’ll be assigned to different departments to help take care of people. [Responsibilities] vary by floor, but basically this means making sure patients are comfortable and have everything they need. … I’ll often bring them coffee and snacks, for example.”
 

In years past, Hoiseth also took on many long shifts escorting patients from the hospital’s post-anesthesia care unit, surgery recovery room and eye center to their cars or waiting transportation.
 

In total, over just the last 12 years alone, Hoiseth has logged upwards of 17,500 service hours at Fairview. The job never gets old, Hoiseth claims, because of the sincere camaraderie between the staff and volunteers.  “I work with these people on a regular basis, and they are just wonderful. They treat me no different than staff – like part of the family. I’ve made some real friends here.”
 

Likewise, Fairview staff have nothing less than glowing to say about Hoiseth. “Mel works tirelessly and conscientiously every day,” said Operation Room Manager Leah Wandersee, who has worked with him closely for 10 years. “The only complaint I’ve ever had from Mel was one day when our [number of patients] was low and he stated that he just wasn’t busy enough!” 

When you touch the hearts of so many people in these small but meaningful ways, it adds up and gets noticed. In recognition of his decades of service, Mayor Jim Hovland awarded Hoiseth the 2013 Mayor’s Outstanding Senior Commendation, bestowed annually “for outstanding volunteer service within the community.”
 

In recent years, for health reasons, Hoiseth has had to scale back his efforts some. However, he still volunteers a minimum of four hours each week, and is near the top of the list whenever the volunteer coordinators need someone to fill an extra shift.
 

“I have two kids, and I’m glad to say that they turned out okay,” Hoiseth laughed. “Besides that, though, maybe this is what I am most proud of.”