Hospital for Special Surgery's Volunteer Opportunities

Looking for an Interesting and Rewarding Volunteering Experience in New York City?

• Patient Care Unit: Volunteers will provide welcome and orientation to new patients on our 6th and 7th Nursing Floors. You will also assist the nursing staff with discharge of patients, pharmacy rounds, obtaining wheel chairs, responding to patient requests for nutritional services, pastoral care needs and other non-technical assistance. Volunteers will shadow nurse managers, CNIII’s or charge persons.
  
• Patients’ Library: Volunteers deliver books and magazines to our in-patients, assist with book sales, and help maintain the library collection. Volunteers should enjoy interacting one on one with patients and be able to maneuver a cart with books. In addition, volunteers are trained to advocate for the patients thereby enhancing the overall patient experience.
  
• Surgical Liaison/Family Atrium: This program ensures smooth communication and delivery of services as the patient moves from holding, to the operating room, and post anesthesia care unit (PACU). The volunteers are a critical communication link among the medical staff, patients, and the family atrium.
  
• Cardio-Pulmonary: Volunteers greet patients, schedule appointments, assist in monthly statistical reports, fax and deliver patient charts, run errands and process outpatient paper work. Volunteers should be mobile and attentive to details.
  
• Volunteer Department: Provide a warm and professional reception to all volunteers, visitors and staff. Volunteers are trained to manage a volunteer database and assist in events planning. In addition volunteers assist in human resource functions including reference checks and processing volunteers from their initial interest through first-day on-boarding.
  
• Physician Practice Liaison: Formally welcome and log in all patients and visitors, provide directions, escort and updates regarding wait times and the progress of the patient’s journey. Volunteers work closely with registrars, nurses and doctors’ office staff.
  
• Admitting: Volunteers direct patients and visitors to all areas throughout the hospital and provide escort as needed. They welcome all who approach the front desk with a warm, professional and efficient manner. Volunteers are trained to use the Clinstar software, provide phone reception, run errands and compile patient packets.
  
• Nursing Floor Patient Liaison: This volunteer role is designed to support the nursing staff in caring for patients from post surgery to discharge. Volunteers also take a cart room to room offering coffee and graham crackers and are trained to advocate for the patients thereby enhancing the patient experience.
  
• Special Procedures Unit: The primary role of the volunteer is to provide friendly support to patients, family members and friends and to support nursing staff in the Special Procedures Unit. The volunteer will make rounds in the family waiting area, escorting patients and families to recovery as well as offering assistance and information while families wait.
  
• Office Management Assistance in a variety of areas, including:

  • Service Excellence
  • Social Work
  • Radiology
  • Occupational Health
  • Pathology Lab
  • Language Services
  • Medical Records/Health Information Mgt.
  • Pre-Surgical Screening

Other volunteer opportunities:

• Research: The Volunteer Department does not actively recruit for this position. However, contact our office and a listing of doctors who are able to utilize research volunteers in their respective areas will be provided.
  
• Department of Social Work Programs, including:
  

  • Lupus Support Programs: LupusLine, Charla de Lupus/Lupus Chat, and LANtern (Lupus Asian Network): Volunteers with lupus receive training in order to serve as a culturally relevant peer support and education source for people with lupus and their families.
    
  • VOICES Program: The VOICES Program provides patients with information and advocates for any needs that arise in regard to their arthritis-related illnesses, such as negotiating Medicaid and accessing community resources.
    
  • VOICES 60+ Senior Advocacy Program: Volunteers help patients access the care, community resources, and education they need to improve their quality of life. Bilingual (English/Spanish) volunteers are especially needed.

• Physical and Occupational Therapy: In this role, volunteers will observe therapists, assist with maintenance of equipment, and support the Rehabilitation Department in some administrative matters.
  
• Ambassadors’ Program: These volunteers greet patients and may provide directions or serve as an escort to hospital visitors.

Volunteers are required to donate at least 150 total hours to the hospital over a six month period. For all summer volunteers we require a minimum of 100 hours in a two month period.
 
This time commitment allows the volunteer to make a real impact on his or her project area and provides the greatest return of personal satisfaction. When volunteers reach this milestone they become eligible for letters of recommendation to prospective schools and potential employers.

NOTE: Due to the number of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to everyone. We will respond to applicants whom we determine to be good matches for programs which have openings.

For more information please call or email Shahan Hafiz (hafizs@hss.edu) or Wendy Yondorf at 212.606.1228.