One person can make a difference.
You don't need to be a doctor to help people feel better. Volunteers are involved with such important tasks as assisting our patients with menu selections at social events. You'll play a vital role in creating a caring, comfortable environment for our patients. And we're always eager to welcome new people!
So You'd Like to Become a Volunteer?
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Wilcox Memorial Hospital. Please fill out a short volunteer application to start the process and help us identify where your valuable time and energy can best be put to use. To ask questions and find out more information first, please feel free to email or call our Volunteer Services Coordinator Jennifer Morishige at Wilcox Memorial Hospital, 245-1002.
Areas Where You Can Help
Volunteers at Wilcox Memorial Hospital handle a variety of assignments throughout the hospital. The Volunteer Services Coordinator will work with you to find the best possible match for you, based on your interest and the areas of greatest need. You'll find the assignments are as diverse as our volunteers.
Gift Shop: Open daily, the Gift Shop is run by Auxiliary volunteers and sells a variety of gifts, incidentals for patients, gift cards, boxed candies, children's toys and newborn items. The Gift Shop provides many opportunities for volunteers to interact with and assist patients, visitors and the health care staff. Gift Shop proceeds are contributed back to the hospital through the Wilcox Health Foundation.
In-service/Information Desk: Located on the ground floor in the elevator lobby, the central Information Desk depends heavily on volunteers. Volunteers provide directions to visitors, assist departments throughout the hospital to transport patients to and from treatment areas, help with patient discharge, deliver inter-office mail, act as greeters for hospital visitors, deliver flowers and run errands for both the hospital and the medical clinic. Volunteers also assist with periodic department projects.
Operation "Care": Hand crafted items are made by volunteers at home for newborns (such as baby caps & booties), holiday food tray decorations for in-patients, stuffed animals for pediatric patients and lap blankets for cancer patients.
Patient Menus: Each day, patients are given menus for the following day's meals. Volunteers provide assistance to patients filling out their menus. This simple interaction with patients provides good service to all patients and helps make their stay more pleasant.
Substitutes: Volunteers are also needed to cover for those volunteers who need time away from their regular assignments.
Healing Touch: Healing Touch is used to promote health and well being through a special technique that influences the energy system of the body. Healing Touch is provided by volunteers who have completed their training by a certified Healing Touch instructor. Patients may request Healing Touch by contacting their nurse.
Thrift Shop: The Thrift Shop receives all of its items through donations. The Thrift Shop offers items of clothing, jewelry, books, house-ware goods and many other resale items. Volunteers sort items received, price items, assist customers, operate a cash register and keep all areas clean and in order. Proceeds are contributed back to the hospital through the Wilcox Health Foundation.
Transporters: Volunteers assist with transporting of patients to various departments for therapy, tests and x-rays.
Becoming a Wilcox Memorial Hospital Volunteer
Health Screening Requirements
To ensure the safety of our patients and a great experience for our volunteers, we request that all volunteers complete a few basic requirements:
- All applicants will interview with the department director for placement assignment.
- All applicants must complete the volunteer orientation which includes:
- A tour of the hospital
- Review of the Volunteer Handbook, Volunteer Policy & Procedures, Volunteer Responsibilities
- Completion of the Annual Training Module post test for volunteers
- The opportunity to ask questions to familiarize yourself with the hospital and your position
- Complete a TB (tuberculosis) test, which will be provided by Wilcox Memorial Hospital.
- New adult volunteer and returning health requirements
- Documented medical record or lab evidence of positive Rubella titer
- Documented medical record of lab evidence of positive Baricella titer or 2 Varivax vaccinations
- Documented medical record or lab evidence of positive (+) Hepatitis B titer or 3 Hepatitis B vaccination or signed Hep B declination form.
- New Junior Volunteer Health Requirements
- Documented medical record or lab evidence of positive Rubella titer or 1 MMR\Rubella vaccination.
- Documented medical record or lab evidence of positive Varicella titer or 2 Varivax vaccinations
- Documented medical record or lab evidence of positive Rubeola titer or 2 MMR\Rubeola vaccinations.
- Documented medical record or lab evidence of positive (+) Hepatitis B titer or 3 Hepatitis B vaccination or signed Hep B declination form.
- Tuberculosis Skin Tests
- Provide proof of two (2) tuberculin skin test clearances (one within the current year and one within 90 days of the volunteer service start date); OR an x-ray within the current year if the TB skin test was positive. (Date and size of the positive reading must be documented by a physician’s office or Dept of Health.)
- Employee Health will provide the TB skin tests for adults at no charge.
- Junior volunteers will be given TB tests with parental/guardian permission.
- Volunteers who require chest x-ray will be referred to the Department of Health
- All adult applicants must permit a routine background check. (Student volunteers are exempt from this requirement.)
For our student volunteers (aged 12-17) we also ask:
- Please have your parent or guardian sign your application along with the Student Health Screening Consent.
- Please provide a copy of your current immunization record (copy of school health or your physician record) together with your application.
- Along with your other immunizations, proof of a Hepatitis B immunization is recommended. If you do not currently have a Hepatitis B immunization, it is not mandatory.
- Please submit the completed Student Volunteer Questionnaire.
Additional Resources
Call our volunteer Service Coordinator Jennifer Morishige to apply, 245-1002.
Download volunteer application form. (PDF)
Download background check form. (PDF)