The following are some of the areas in which the hospital currently has volunteer needs. If you would like more information, please call our office at 216-844-1504.
Book Cart: Hospital patients often feel isolated and bored, but if you can walk and push a cart you can help to ease these feelings. Your smile and offer of reading materials, playing cards, crossword puzzles or word searches will make a difference to patients and families.
Craft Cart: If you are energetic, enthusiastic, and enjoy working with children, become a Craft Cart volunteer. Visit Rainbow Babies & Children’s divisions, distributing diversionary activities and craft supplies to pediatric patients and their families. Bring a smile to the face of a child.
University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center: Many exciting volunteer opportunities are available at UH Seidman Cancer Center, the free-standing cancer hospital at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. This 375,000 square foot cancer hospital houses diagnostic, inpatient and outpatient treatment, surgical, and research facilities entirely devoted to cancer and provides convenient access to services. The new cancer hospital has 120 beds and features healing gardens and other amenities to instill peace and tranquility for patients and families. For further information regarding the many volunteer opportunities call 216-844-1504.
Reach Out and Read: Imagine a world where all children are read to and have the chance to enjoy books on a regular basis. For many of our patients, being read to is a rare treat! Volunteers are needed to select books and share stories with infants and children in the waiting area of our outpatient women and children’s clinic. In doing so, you can enable young children to gain an appreciation for books and excel at reading, a vital skill for success in life.
Rainbow Family Resource Center: Pediatric patients and families often need the support of both information and entertainment while hospitalized. Volunteers in Rainbow’s Family Resource Center have the opportunity to assist and empower patients and families in seeking health-related information through the Internet, books, and educational videos. You will also enable patients and families to more easily pass their time here by assisting them in borrowing recreational books and videos from the center. Basic computer interest and skills are necessary.
Child Life Activities: Do you enjoy reading, making art, and playing games with children? Are you interested in working with infants and children? Child life activities volunteers are specially trained to visit and interact with pediatric patients from birth through eighteen in the activity centers and at patients’ bedsides. You will work with patients and families to help make their stay at Rainbow more enjoyable by providing company and comfort to them.
MAP/Dental Clinic: Our MAP (Multidisciplinary Ambulatory Program) and Dental Clinic see many children and families each day. Volunteers share stories, coloring, and other enjoyable activities with our school-age patients enhancing their experience at Rainbow.
Guest Services: Are you a positive, energetic, outgoing and enjoy providing directions to visitors? The Guest Services volunteers provide an unforgettable first impression as our guest enter the hospital. Guest Services volunteer escort visitors to various hospital locations.
Pastoral Care: The Pastoral Care Department at University Hospitals Case Medical Center exists to help in the spiritual healing process of patients, visitors, and staff members thus enabling one to achieve health. Volunteer positions exist as Patient Visitors, On-Call Clergy, Eucharistic Ministers, and office support.
Clerical/Reception: Are you looking to keep active with your clerical and customer service skills? Make a difference in a medical office environment by assisting staff with greeting visitors and working with telephones, filing, copying, and computers. This role provides volunteers the opportunity to gain experience in a professional office environment or supportive waiting area and learn new skills. Opportunities exist in various offices, reception desks, and patient care waiting areas throughout the hospital.
Atrium Gift Shop: Volunteers assist in the Atrium Shop with customer service and support duties. Greeters welcome customers as they enter the shop and assist them with their selections. The volunteers provide a warm and welcoming environment in the shop while assisting paid staff with their duties in the floral and gift areas. The Atrium Gift Shop is a function of the Auxiliary of University Hospitals Case Medical Center. Proceeds from the shop support programs for patients and their families.
Skilled Nursing: Assist activities staff in Hanna House with scheduled programs (i.e., religious services, crafts, music, bingo, and special events). Transport patients to and from programs, provide reading materials and friendly visits to patients.
Wheel Chair Recovery Patient Discharge Assistant: Recover wheelchairs from various hospital locations and assist in expediting our patients’ trip home by providing a wheelchair when needed. Accompany discharged patients as they wait at the Lerner entrance for their ride to arrive and provide a friendly goodbye.
Ronald McDonald Family Room: An extension of the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland, the Family Room provides an area of retreat within the hospital where families and friends can spend quiet time together, engage in private conversations or reflection, or enjoy coffee and a snack while still being close to the child's room. Families are greeted by volunteers who act as host or hostess of the room. Volunteers provide a warm, friendly and supportive atmosphere for families by registering visitors, explaining what services are available, and helping families to feel at home. They also help to keep the room neat and tidy, restock snacks and beverages, maintain statistical records, and enforce policies.
Ambassadors: Admission to the hospital is often unexpected and creates anxiety for patients and families. Taking in all of the information about health needs while attempting to adjust to the hospital environment can be overwhelming. Volunteers find meaning in visiting patients and their families within the first two days of arrival. Ambassadors’ visits are a friendly welcome and opportunity to share information one on one with patients and families. Ambassadors also have the important opportunity to observe and identify any additional personal or accommodation needs through brief conversation and forward these concerns or needs to staff.
Pet Pals©: Hospitalization can be a difficult experience. Pet Pals volunteers and their certified therapy dogs bring comfort and warmth to pediatric and adult patients by making short visits to their hospital rooms. This position has additional screening and program requirements. Download a Pet Pals information packet.