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.

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 volunteer@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.

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.

Family/Guest Services

Center for Health and Healing Guide Volunteers: 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.

OHSU Hospital Guide Volunteers: 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.

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.

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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