OHSU Volunteer Opportunities

Patient Services

Animal Assisted Therapy Program: Volunteer teams (dog/cat) who have been approved by the DoveLewis Animal Assisted Therapy Education (DLAATE) Program through the DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital, visit patients in our hospitals and clinics providing comfort, relaxation and companionship.

Emergency Department/Triage: Greet and assist incoming patients as they arrive to the Emergency Department. Assist the triage nurse, assuring every patient is seen and greeted in a friendly manner. Assisting patients to their exam room and escorting patients to further testing, such as x-ray, lab, etc. Stay in touch with patients as they wait in the lounge, reassuring them, and trying to make their wait comfortable.

Emergency Research – CRISP (Critical Research Investigative Study Program): Volunteers assist with gathering data from emergency room patients as part of a research program for purposes of compiling information regarding patients access to and from the emergency department. Volunteers ask questions such as: why they have come?, Do they have a doctor?, etc. They do this by speaking directly with the patient and then enter this data into a computer.

Healing Through Music
Musically talented? We need musicians to volunteer on a regular basis to play piano (or other instruments) for families and patients in various areas of the hospital such as the Doernbecher lobby. Please call 503.418.5373, or email takayama@ohsu.edu for further information on the Healing Through Music program.

MRI: Volunteers greet and welcome arriving patients to the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Center. They give patients the MRI screening form and provide assistance filling out the form. They notify staff of the patient's arrival and provide escort if needed. They assist with providing directions and escort when called to do so.

Neurology Clinic Patient Survey Assistance: Volunteers assist in the surveying of patients in the movement disorder clinic at their regular appointments. The data gathered assists with a registry that has been developed to track the patient’s progress.

None One Dies Alone (NODA): Provides the reassuring presence of a volunteer companion for the adult, dying patients who would otherwise be alone. With the support of nursing staff, volunteer companions are thus able to help provide patients with that most valuable of human gifts ~ a dignified death. This volunteer position is on an "on-call" basis.

Nursing Units: Volunteers assist staff by taking care of patient’s comfort needs, such as: answering patient call lights, feeding patients, assisting with the ambulating patients, bathing patients, providing a friendly visit, and helping with the discharge process. Volunteers also help with passing nourishments, stocking supplies and running errands for staff.

Patient Meal Tray Delivery: Volunteers deliver patients meals during lunch and dinner ensuring patients receive their meals in an efficient and timely manner.

Volunteer Guides: Volunteers assist with directing and escorting patients, families and guests to and from their appointments and other destinations throughout the hospitals, clinics and university campus.

Women’s Health Resource Library: Volunteers assist patients visiting the Center for Women’s Health, by retrieving information regarding specific medical conditions. This may include pamphlets, reference books, or internet searches

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Family/Guest Services

Center for Health and Healing Ambassador: Volunteers will assist with greeting and directing arriving patients and visitors to the Center for Health and Healing, located on the South Waterfront in the OHSU Commons. They will assist with directions and escorting patients to their various appointments.

Kohler Pavilion Ambassador: Volunteers assist arriving patients and guests with directions and, providing escort when necessary. Volunteers will answer the telephone, look up patient information and appointments on the computer and direct accordingly.

Kohler Pavilion ICU Waiting Room: Volunteers greet and welcome families into the ICU waiting room, informing them of visiting rule policies and protocol as well as the amenities that are available. They instruct family on the procedure for entering into the ICU nursing unit and answer any questions family may have. Volunteers maintain a compassionate and caring atmosphere, making sure refreshment center is adequately supplied, and maintaining a tidy and neat area for everyone.

Surgery Waiting Room: Volunteers staff the Surgery Waiting Room in the afternoons and are the liaison between the operating room and family members during surgery. They keep families informed of their loved one’s progress through surgery, when they arrive into the recovery room and when they are ready to return to their room. They make sure surgeons are able to locate and meet with families for consultations. They also make sure that the waiting room is adequately supplied.

Surgery Waiting Room Volunteer Ambassador: Volunteers will assist the Concierge Ambassador, greeting and escorting families who have loved ones in surgery as they arrive to the Surgery Waiting Rooms. Volunteers also assist with providing information, direction, comfort and support to awaiting family members.

Treasures Gift Shop: Volunteers assist in the retail sales of a very busy gift shop that provides gift items, jewelry, toys, cards, magazines, candy, etc., for sale to families, visitors and employees. Volunteers will operate the cash register, handle cash, assist customers in making selections, and also get involved with providing directions to various areas of the hospital.

 

Miscellaneous Office and Clerical Positions

Volunteers can be assigned to various departments to assist in office work. Duties may include word processing, data entry, filing, answering phones, mailings, greeting visitors, copying and collating materials, preparing handouts, compiling reports, looking up materials/subjects in the internet, and various other office related work.

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