When selecting a volunteer job consider your interests and schedule. Determine ahead how much time you have available for volunteer work. Make a list of one or more of the volunteer jobs that interest you. Volunteer Services staff will gladly assist you in selecting a volunteer position that best meets your interests and schedule during an information meeting at UW Medical Center.
Volunteer opportunities at UW Medical Center are as numerous and varied as the volunteers themselves. Opportunities include:
What's New -- "Hot" Volunteer Jobs
Assisting Patients
Supporting Patient Families and Guests
Performing Clerical and Administrative Work
Assisting in Specialty Areas
Helping With Cancer Programs and Events
Performing Special Projects
Working on Special Events
Helping With Service League Projects and Committees
- Escort
Work with an active team of volunteers and staff transporting patients and delivering medical charts and laboratory specimens throughout the medical center. This is a great way to learn about the medical center. Fulfills prerequisite for ER, OR, and Neonatal ICU positions.
- Gift Shop
Work in a fast-paced retail setting where net proceeds benefit patient care. Opportunities available weekdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and evenings and weekends. A perfect job for persons with a retail background, those interested in a business/retail career, or those who love to shop!
- Nursing Units
Assist staff in a variety of patient care services. Great for pre-nursing requirements! Many opportunities available day, evening, and weekend.
- Oncology Concierge Desk
Assist bone marrow transplant families with their stay at the medical center and with information about recreation activities within the medical center and around campus. One year commitment required.
- Surgery Liaison
Serve as liaison between patients, families and operating room staff. Provide timely information about status of surgery. One-year commitment required. A few openings exist Monday through Friday, day shift only.
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Volunteers transport patients, deliver medical charts and lab specimens, provide customer service in the Gift Shop, bring books and magazines to patient rooms, and help with recreational activities.
Many volunteers begin as Escorts transporting patients and delivering lab specimens and charts to learn their way around the medical center. Once they gain experience in a medical setting they often go on to work in other areas of the hospital.
Volunteer opportunities in this category include:
- Escort
- Gift Shop
- Nursing Unit Assistant
- Patient Book and Magazine Cart
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Volunteers provide family members and guests with directions, information and resources. Others provide a vital link between medical staff and patient families.
Volunteer opportunities in this category include:
- Information Desk
- Surgery Liaison
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Volunteers may do patient reception, telephone answering, reminder phone calls, data entry, and filing to assist front line staff in clinics and departments. Duties may also include patient transport and medical center deliveries.
Here is a list of departments and clinics that have volunteers assisting with clerical and administrative tasks.
- Cardiac Diagnostic
- Dermatology
- Diabetes Care Center
- Employee Health Services
- Interpreter Services
- Medical Records
- Nutrition
- Otolaryngology
- Pain Center
- Transplant
- Vascular Diagnostics
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Volunteers gain experience in specialized service areas that provide care and assistance to our patients. Some roles provide hands on experience and patient contact and/or require clerical duties.
Here are departments, programs, and services which have volunteer placements:
- Artist-in-Residence (Arts and/or Crafts Experience Required)
- Bone & Joint Center
- Emergency Room*
- Exercise Training Center
- Nursing Unit
- Operating Room
- Pediatric Care Clinic
- Perinatal Education
- Physical Therapy
- Post Anesthesia Care Unit
- Radiology
- Surgery Center
(An * indicates a prerequisite at the Escort Desk.)
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Volunteers help in a variety of ways in our oncology service (positions in this area are available on a limited basis):
- Staff a special library for patients, and their families
- Coordinate and help with Living Well With Cancer Series classes. These classes now include writing, art therapy, knitting, yoga, nutrition, and stress management.
- Perform clerical and data entry tasks to assist staff
- Serve as concierge for families of oncology patients
- Visit patients
- Serve as liaison for Breast Cancer Clinic patients
- Assist Staff with Cancer Fundraising Events as needs arise
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Volunteers provide one time or ongoing assistance to medical center departments and programs. Some volunteers make hats for cancer patients, while others do specialized computer work or help with a cancer program event. These special project volunteer roles are developed as needed.
Volunteer opportunities in this category include:
- Layette Knitter
- Meals for ICU Families
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Volunteers work on one or more events with medical center staff. Needs Vary. Examples include cancer fund raisers and holiday decorating.
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Volunteers prepare welcome baskets, knit layette items for the layette program, deliver toys to nursing units, and serve on various Service League Committees.
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