Volunteer Program
Volunteers are an integral part of Providence Holy Cross Medical Center. Our volunteers provide encouragement, comfort and strength to our patients and visitors. Our volunteers often make new friends and learn new skills along the way. Offer your time and talents and reap the rewards of serving your community and being appreciated.
Volunteering can be rewarding, but it is also a serious commitment:
- Thank you for inquiring about becoming a volunteer. We accept applications all year long. Our regular shifts are 8-12, 12-4, or 4-8, 7 days a week. If you can commit to at least one shift per week working towards 100 hours, please fill out the online application below. Please call the volunteer department at 818-496-4613 if you have any questions.
- Please note that it is highly recommended that applicants be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have received a booster.
We have over 300 volunteers ranging in age from 15 to over 80. Our volunteer opportunities are varied and interesting. See a list of opportunities below.
The Volunteer Department seeks to obtain the most appropriate candidates and assign them accordingly. Not every opportunity is available at a given time and is often determined by the department’s needs as well as the volunteer’s background, skills and schedule of availability.
Bilingual language skills, Spanish especially, are extremely helpful in many of our assignments.
We are unable to allow physician or nurse shadowing as it is considered a breach of patient confidentiality and is not permitted at our medical center.
Assist with greeting patients and visitors. Escort them to their destination in the Medical Center, possibly by transport in a wheelchair; may also assist with general office tasks and running errands. Requires the ability to be able to push a patient in a wheelchair.
Assists the department staff with maintaining supplies and inventory control as needed by unpacking, stocking and putting stickers on supplies, at times making deliveries to various departments and locations throughout the Medical Center. Requires the ability to withstand long periods of walking and/or standing.
(21 years of age and older) Will assist with greeting people, directing visitors, making phone calls, answering questions, locating patients and helping with forms. May also communicate with patients and family, maintain waiting room and supplies, request an interpreter, and assist patients needing wheelchairs. Requires the ability to withstand long periods of walking and/or standing.
In recognition of the shared ministry within the Church, Eucharistic Ministers, with prior experience and training assist with bringing the Eucharist to patients in the Medical Center who have expressed a desire for the Sacrament.
Will complete the sale of merchandise and gifts utilizing a cash register, make change and package sold merchandise. Encourage sales by pointing out new merchandise and replenish candy and other items. Reliability and dependability A MUST as the gift shop does not operate without volunteers to staff it.
Assist with retrieving samples from tube system, transport specimens from floors to lab and perform functions to facilitate successful completion of clerical duties. Assist as required with filing, copying, answering phones, typing and miscellaneous clerical duties. Assist staff in maintaining supplies and inventory as requested.
(16 and older) Provide assistance to Maternal Child Health patients, family members and their visitors to ensure their experience is as pleasant as possible. Assist staff with improving patient stay. May answer call lights, make beds, clean tables, fill water pitchers, check linen supply in room, or assist patients with various needs. Requires the ability to withstand long periods of walking and/or standing.
Assist nursing staff with unit activities, provide assistance to patient care staff to ensure delivery of the best care possible to our patients (16 and older). Requires the ability to withstand long periods of walking and/or standing.
Provide assistance to staff; may clean whirlpool, gym and/or galley areas. May change linens, make hot/cold packs, assist patients by wheel chair to other locations, and transport equipment or run errands.
Assists as required with organizing and filing patient related information; escorting patients; delivering materials to other departments and general office tasks.
The role of the volunteer is to provide assistance to the nurses working in Short Stay Surgery Unit. Volunteers assist with sanitizing and disinfecting patient gurneys; discharging patients by wheelchair and preparing patient packets.
- Free parking: Volunteers may park free of charge in designated parking lots using a Providence-issued identification badge.
- Discount in cafeteria: Volunteer identification badges issued by Providence entitles volunteers to a free snack.
- Medical center events: Volunteers have the opportunity to attend various events during the year, including the Volunteer Recognition Event, holiday parties, special healthcare fairs and events.
- Verification of hours will be provided upon request.
People of all ages, backgrounds and abilities who want to help others can become volunteers. An initial interview matches each volunteer's interest, talent and schedule to the medical center's needs. All volunteers attend an orientation to introduce them to our mission and core values.
The list of requirements includes:
- Volunteers must be at least 15 years old.
- Volunteers must take a tuberculosis test, provided free of charge by the employee health department to start, and again annually during the month of their birthday.
- Volunteers aged 18 years and over are required to perform a background check paid for by the medical center.
- Volunteers are asked for a minimum of a once-a-week commitment working towards 100 hours.
- Volunteers must wear the Providence Holy Cross ID badge and volunteer uniform when volunteering to make it easy for the staff and patients to recognize them.