About UCSF Children's Hospital	Print Format

Volunteer Services

Volunteers come to UCSF Medical Center, UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion and UCSF Children's Hospital for many reasons but most come to help others and contribute to the community. Volunteers also come to learn about the medical profession and to be a part of a team dedicated to providing the highest quality health care.

If you're 16 years of age and older, you're eligible to become a volunteer. Pediatric programs and the Emergency Department have a minimum age requirement of 18. Students, who are 14 and older, may participate in the Summer Student Program, which accepts applications in early April.

Each volunteer must commit to a minimum of four hours of service each week for three months. Six months are required in the Emergency Department and Child Life Services.

Contact Information

We have many volunteer assignments. The following is a sample of the opportunities available. Please call Volunteer Services for an orientation packet and a complete listing of assignments.

Parnassus Sample Jobs

• Ambassador Program — Greet, escort and assist patients and visitors in a busy clinic environment at the Ambulatory Care Center (ACC).

• Child Life Services — Pediatric Playroom volunteers help with supervised therapeutic play, recreational activities and organize and tidy up the toy area. School Room volunteers work with patients on homework and educational activities. Book Buddies read to patients and siblings in their rooms. Teen Room volunteers help with socialization and other activities. All pediatric volunteers must be at least 18 years old. There is a six-month minimum commitment for Child Life Services positions.

• Emergency Department — Assist with transporting patients, stocking supplies, serving as a "runner" to labs, Radiology and the Blood Bank, and serving as a liaison between families and staff. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

• Gift Shop — Assist with displays, gift-wrapping, stocking supplies and customers' purchases.

• Nursing Floors — Assist nursing staff with basic patient care, serving and collecting patient meal trays, feeding and transporting patients, answering call lights, making beds, running errands, stocking supplies and other duties as assigned on nursing units. All volunteers must attend a Nursing Training Session before volunteering on a nursing floor. Volunteers must be self-directed and able to work independently.

• Patient Information Desk -- Provide information in a busy work environment to visitors regarding patient, doctor and departmental locations, as well as answer and transfer incoming calls.

Mount Zion Sample Jobs

• Ambassador Program — Greet, escort and assist patients and visitors at the UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center and Women's Resource Center. Volunteers also may assist with the lunch program in the Infusion Center

• Art for Recovery — Help patients with creative projects such as art, journal writing, poetry, music and quilt blocking for the Breast Cancer Quilt Project.

• Gift Shop -- Assist customers with purchases and gift wrapping. Help set up displays and stock supplies.

• Post Anesthesia Care Room and Surgical Waiting Room — Keep family members informed of patient's status, answer phones, run errands and help transport patients in wheelchairs.

Volunteer Requirements

• Application -- Please download and complete the application and bring it with you to an orientation. You may call (415) 353-1196 to request that an application be mailed to your home. Do NOT mail your completed application.

• Orientation — All potential volunteers are required to attend an orientation that provides information regarding volunteer positions, infection control and policy and procedures. Call Volunteer Services at (415) 353-1196 for upcoming training dates.

• Interview — After attending the orientation, you will be interviewed by a member of the Volunteer Services staff to determine the best placement for you. You will meet with a supervisor of a selected department to determine compatibility and discuss training and work schedule.

• Health — Volunteers must provide health clearance information, including verification of a negative tuberculin skin test completed within the last three months. If the TB skin test is positive, you will need a copy of a negative chest X-ray taken within the past year. A record of vaccinations must include proof of measles vaccination or positive blood titre test, rubella vaccination or a positive blood titre test, and chicken pox vaccination or proof of varicella blood test. If you do not have medical insurance to cover these requirements, please let us know during your initial interview so we can make arrangements for you. In some departments, volunteers also need proof of Hepatitis B vaccination.

• Age — Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age, except in the Student Summer Program, which has a minimun age requirement of 14. Some services, such as Child Life Services and the Emergency Department, require a minimum age of 18. All volunteers under age 18 must provide a signed Parental Consent Form that will be provided during the interview.

• Fingerprinting — Fingerprinting is required for volunteers age 18 and older working in Pediatrics and the gift shops. Our office will make arrangements for you to be fingerprinted, if needed.

• Time — Volunteers must commit to a minimum of four hours per week for three months or six months depending on the assignment area. All volunteers are required to sign in and out on timecards.

• Dress — Volunteers must wear the UCSF volunteer uniform and nametag while on duty. In accordance with the UCSF dress code, jeans are not allowed.

Summer Student Program

Students from Bay Area high schools and universities make a difference while learning valuable job skills in UCSF Medical Center's Summer Student Program.

Volunteers must be at least 14 years old and attend an orientation in June. We ask for a minimum commitment of four hours per week for eight weeks.

Contact our office at (415) 353-1196 in early April to request an application.

The following is a sampling of some of student assignments:

• Nursing Floors
• Caring Crafts
• Child Care Study Center
• Book Cart
• Emergency Department (Must be at least 18 years old)
• Pediatrics (Must be at least 18 years old)

If you are a UCSF Medical Center department and would like to have a volunteer in your unit or would like to discuss volunteer utilization, please contact the Volunteer Office (415) 353-1196.

You can recognize a volunteer by submitting a H.E.A.R.T.S. (Honoring Exceptional And Random Treasured Service) form.