The following are some of the areas in which we have volunteer needs. If you do not see an opportunity that appeals to you, please indicate your special interest or talent on your application.
Please call our office for more information. (216) 844-1504
UH Greeter: First impressions are lasting, and you can help us to welcome patients, families, and visitors upon their arrival at the hospital's main entrance. Understandably, our visitors are often hurried and under stress. By escorting visitors to their hospital destinations, UH Greeters reduce families' stress while increasing customer satisfaction.
Pastoral Care: The Pastoral Care Department at University Hospitals exists to help in the spiritual healing process of patients, visitors, and staff members thus enabling one to achieve health. Volunteer positions exist as Patient Visitors, On-Call Clergy, Eucharistic Ministers, and office support.
Clerical/Reception: Are you looking to keep active with your clerical and customer service skills? Make a difference in a medical office environment by assisting staff with greeting visitors and working with telephones, filing, copying, and computers. This role provides volunteers the opportunity to gain experience in a
professional office environment or supportive waiting area and learn new skills. Opportunities exist in various offices, reception desks, and patient care waiting areas throughout the hospital.
Patient Activities: Would you find meaning in helping to make patients' hospital stays more comfortable? Assist our adult patients with non-medical needs and diversionary activities. Opportunities exist in Hanna House, Lakeside Hospital, MacDonald Women's Hospital, and the Lerner Tower. Volunteers visit with
patients, assist with meals or flower delivery, play cards, or teach patients skills such as knitting or crafts.
Patient Discharge Assistant/Transport Assistant: When you assist with transporting patients to tests, procedures, or discharge, you help to make patients more comfortable or expedite their trip home. You will transport patients by wheelchair and provide a warm welcome or friendly goodbye.
Activity Cart: Hospital patients often feel isolated and bored, but if you can walk and push a cart you can help to ease these feelings. Your smile and offer of reading materials, playing cards, simple craft kits; crossword puzzles, or word searches will make a difference to our patients.
Emergency Department: If you remain calm in a crisis, this is the position for you. Whether it's assisting worried patients and their loved ones by providing information, comfort and support or assisting the clinical staff by stocking supplies, running errands, or performing many other challenging and rewarding tasks your
excellent communication and interpersonal skills are needed. Volunteers serve as a liaison between Emergency Department staff and patients' families. This is a great opportunity for medical or nursing students seeking experience.
Hospitality Suite: Waiting for an adult family member who is in surgery can be a daunting experience. Volunteers in our Hospitality Suite offer a welcoming and comfortable environment where family
members can get coffee, read a magazine to pass the time, or send e-mail updates to friends and family.
Pet Pals: Hospitalization can be a difficult experience. Pet Pal volunteers and their certified therapy dogs bring comfort and warmth to pediatric and adult patients by making short visits to their hospital rooms. This position has additional screening/program requirements. Contact us for a Pet Pals information packet.
Ireland Cancer Center: When a patient receives a diagnosis of cancer they often experience overwhelming feelings of fear, confusion, and isolation. Volunteers in the outpatient clinic of the Ireland Cancer Center provide patients with a warm smile, a friendly visit, and a snack during times of chemotherapy treatment and extended visits.
Reach Out and Read: Imagine a world where all children are read to and have the chance to enjoy books on a regular basis. For many of our patients, being read to is a rare treat. Volunteers are needed to select books and share stories with infants and children in the waiting area of our outpatient women and children's clinic. In
doing so, you can enable young children to gain an appreciation for books and excel at reading, a vital skill for success in life.
Rainbow Family Resource Center: Pediatric patients and families often need the support of both information and entertainment while hospitalized. Volunteers in Rainbow's Family Resource Center have the opportunity to assist and empower patients and families in seeking health-related information through the Internet, books, and educational videos. You will also enable patients and families to more easily pass their time here by assisting them in borrowing recreational books and videotapes from the center. Basic computer interest and skills are necessary.
Child Life Activities: Do you enjoy reading, making art, and playing games with children? Are you interested in working with infants and children? Child life activities volunteers are specially trained to visit and interact with pediatric patients from birth through eighteen in the activity centers and at patients' bedsides. You will work with patients and families to help make their stay at Rainbow more enjoyable by providing company and
comfort to them.
MAP/Dental Clinic: Our MAP (Multidisciplinary Ambulatory Program) and Dental Clinic see many children and families each day. Volunteers share stories, coloring, and other enjoyable activities with our school-age patients enhancing their experience at Rainbow.
Pediatric Closed Circuit Television: Through the "magic" of closed circuit television, patients and families are able to participate interactively in creative arts, bingo, and other diversional entertainment programming. For patients and families, PCCTV programming allows self-expression, the freedom to make choices, and simply to have fun! In this area, you will volunteer literally "behind the scenes" to make the shows happen. Volunteers are utilized as video camera operators and production assistants for our live shows.
Ronald McDonald Family Room: Families of pediatric patients have the opportunity to experience some of the comforts of home in the Ronald McDonald Family Room. Volunteers are needed to oversee the Family
Room and create a functional, yet pleasant and attractive, place where the families can relax.