Patient Interaction Volunteer Opportunities
Available Opportunities
- Interpreter Services - Español
- Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital Patient Support
- Orthopedic Trauma & Surgery
- Surgical Specialty
Multiple positions available
Purpose
Medically interpret to facilitate communication between medical staff, patients, and family members
Days/Hours
Varying shifts as assigned: Monday–Friday
Qualifications
- Fluent in English and Spanish
- Successfully complete a language proficiency evaluation
- Volunteer interpreters are encouraged to attend Bridging the Gap, a 40 hour training for medical terminology and interpreter code of ethics
Volunteer Duties/Responsibilities
- Interpret for patient in-person and over the phone for basic medical encounters
- Help with office phone calls and coordinate appointments of other languages
- Assist with note taking when doing a phone or a clinical interpretation
- Interpret colloquial phrases and technical medical terminology
- Be familiarized with the interpreter code of ethics
- Other office projects and tasks as assigned
Location
The University of Utah Hospital
Interested in volunteering for this program?
Contact Volunteer Services at hospitalvolunteerservices@hsc.utah.edu to express interest
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Subject Line: Interpreter Services
2 positions available
Purpose
To assist staff at the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) with comfort care and customer service for patients and their families
Days/Hours
Varying shifts as assigned: Weekday afternoons
Volunteer Duties/Responsibilities
- Facilitate creative activities such as arts and crafts, card games, seasonal decorating, and conversation
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Encourage patient engagement with “boredom busters” like puzzles, coloring, and guided social time
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Visit patients who may be feeling isolated or have limited visitors
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Assist with light personal care activities (e.g., braiding hair, nail painting), if comfortable
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Help patients access or participate in therapeutic leisure activities
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Distribute or collect activity supplies (training provided; materials stored on-site)
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Provide companionship and emotional support during non-clinical moments
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Assist with snack or meal tray delivery (as appropriate and with staff approval)
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Escort patients to community areas or meet food deliveries when applicable
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Optional: Visit patients who are on infection/isolation precautions with proper PPE and training
Location
The Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital
Interested in volunteering for this program?
Contact Volunteer Services at hospitalvolunteerservices@hsc.utah.edu to express interest
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Subject Line: NRH Patient Support
1-2 positions available
Purpose
To assist the staff on the Orthopedic Trauma and Surgery (E60 OTS) unit with patient and family customer service and nursing support
Days/Hours
Varying shifts as assigned: Monday–Friday, business hours preferred, 4-hour shifts
Volunteer Duties/Responsibilities
- Welcome and orient new patients using the unit's admission checklist
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Visit and engage with patients who do not have visitors
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Support visitors by giving directions or escorting them; offer beverages and snacks
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Respond to patient call lights and notify staff as needed
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Restock patient room and hallway supplies, including gloves and blankets
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Prepare welcome baskets and assemble admit packets
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Escort discharged patients to their pickup location
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Complete hand hygiene audits after training
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Assist staff with additional non-clinical tasks as assigned
Location
The University of Utah Hospital
Interested in volunteering for this program?
Contact Volunteer Services at hospitalvolunteerservices@hsc.utah.edu to express interest
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Subject Line: E60 OTS
4 positions available
Purpose
To assist the staff on the Surgical Specialty (A50 SSTU) unit with patient, family, customer service, and nursing support.
Days/Hours
Varying shifts as assigned: Monday–Friday, business hours preferred, 4-hour shifts
Volunteer Duties/Responsibilities
- Welcome new patients using the Welcome to A50 Packet
- Visit patients and offer companionship, using activity materials as needed
- Assist visitors with directions and escort them if needed
- Respond to call lights and communicate patient needs to staff
- Restock patient rooms, hallways, and blanket warmers
- Assemble and distribute new patient admit packets
- Escort discharged patients and assist with their belongings
- Conduct hand hygiene audits after training
- Support staff with additional non-clinical tasks as assigned
Location
The University of Utah Hospital
Interested in volunteering for this program?
Contact Volunteer Services at hospitalvolunteerservices@hsc.utah.edu to express interest
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Subject Line: A50 SSTU
Unavailable Opportunities
- Acute Medicine Pulmonary Unit
- Cardiovascular Medical Unit
- Doula
- Emergency Department
- Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP)
- Moran Surgery PACU
- Redwood Patient Navigator
- Technology Recreation Access Independence Lifestyle Sports (TRAILS)
Purpose
To assist the staff on the Acute Medicine Pulmonary (E40 AMP) unit with patient, family, customer service, and nursing support
Days/Hours
- Four to six hours per week
- Sunday through Saturday, between 8:00 am–10:00 pm
- Shift dates, and times are flexible
Duties/Responsibilities
Volunteers provide essential support across multiple areas including patient care, staff assistance, and unit organization through tasks such as meal distribution, patient transport, communication aids development, and maintaining unit tidiness
Location
Purpose
Assist staff, patients, and visitors with the day-to-day functions of the Cardiovascular Care (A42 CVC) unit
Days/Hours
Open based on availability
Volunteer Duties/Responsibilities
- Clerical assistance
- Patient interaction & assistance
- Stocking
- Auditing
- Inventory of rooms/supplies
- Comfort rounding with patients
Location
Purpose
To support birthing mothers and their families in the Labor and Delivery unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology unit, and OB Emergency Services
Days/Hours
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Sunday to Saturday, 8 am–8 pm and 8 pm–8 am
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Must commit to 2 x 12-hour shifts per month
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Shifts assigned by Perinatal Patient Education
Qualifications
- Doula Certification (DONA, ICEA, CAPPA, or others with approval)
- In-Service Attendance: Required attendance at doula meetings and trainings
Volunteer Duties/Responsibilities
- Advocate for birthing mothers to support their birth preferences and a safe, positive experience
- Support breastfeeding and bonding after birth
- Support nursing staff when not attending to a mother in labor
Location
The University of Utah Hospital
Inquiries?
Email uofudoulas@gmail.com
Purpose
Provide support for Emergency Department staff by ensuring patients and their visitors are comfortable and assisting with patient transport to radiology for imaging services
Days/Hours
- Four hours per week
- Shift availability varies
Qualifications/Requirements
No certification required, but you must complete PPE training. All volunteers will review the ED Volunteer Orientation Guide and then attend an in-person training (approximately 2 hours). This training may or may not be during the volunteer’s regular shift.
Volunteer Duties/Responsibilities
- Comfort Rounds: Visit patient rooms and offer warm blankets, demonstrate how to operate the TV, dim the lights, etc. May provide comfort items for patient’s visitors.
- Radiology Transport: Transport patients to and from Radiology (CT, XRAY, MRI, Ultrasound) for imaging services
- Support triage staff (intake) by walking patients to their room from the waiting room
- Restock blanket warmers
- Organize and sanitize wheelchairs
Location
Purpose
HELP is structured program of care for hospitalized older patients designed to prevent delirium and functional decline throughout hospitalization. HELP goals are to maintain physical and cognitive functioning by utilizing daily interventions administered by volunteers.
Reports To
Lauren Chamberlain, MS-GERON (they/them)
Elder Life Specialist, Program Manager of HELP
Email: lauren.chamberlain@hsc.utah.edu
Days/Hours
Varies Monday–Friday
Qualifications
- Reliable and caring; enjoy working with older patients
- Discreet, empathetic behavior and ability to exercise diplomacy in talking to patients, patient’s family and staff
- Ability to work independently and assume responsibility while providing non-clinical care
- Ability to refer questions to staff as needed
- Complete 16 hours of HELP Volunteer Training
Duties/Responsibilities
- Daily visits to patients enrolled in HELP to provide support and orienting communication
- Participate in the Therapeutic Activities program by providing mentally stimulating activities at the bedside such as trivia, current events, reminiscing, playing games on iPad, Wii, etc.
- Assist in the Early Mobilization program by walking active patients and performing range of motion exercises with bedridden patients
- Provide assistance and companionship during meals
- Assist HELP staff members as requested
Location
Purpose
Assist nurses and healthcare assistants in an ambulatory surgery setting, allowing nurses to spend more time at the bedside
Days/Hours
Tuesdays and Fridays between 8:30 am–4:00 pm. Flexible 4-hour shifts are available during these hours
Qualifications
No special qualifications or requirements are needed. Volunteers will receive orientation specific to the unit
Volunteer Duties/Responsibilities
- Escort patients from the waiting room to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
- Transport patients to their vehicles via wheelchair
- Obtain snacks and beverages for patients post-surgery
- Assemble take-home bags with tape and glasses for patients
- Keep bays stocked with linens
- Clean pre-op bays and post-op beds after each patient
- Restock snacks, beverages, utensils, plates, and cups in patient and staff areas
Location
Ambulatory Surgery at John A. Moran Eye Center
Purpose
Provide assistance to the patients of Redwood Health Center by navigating them through the process at the center from start to finish. Redwood serves patient populations from a wide variety of backgrounds in the University of Utah Health system. We try to tailor our care to meet the needs of our surrounding community so we can be the community clinic they deserve. As a center, we want to ensure our patients have fulfilled their next steps in care and feel confident.
Days/Hours
Monday through Friday between 8:30 am–6 pm
Volunteer Duties/Responsibilities
- Assist patients to their next destination in the clinic
- Walk, push wheelchairs, and guide patients
- Help patients schedule follow-up appointments over the phone or in person
- Relay UTA transportation times and routes to patients
- Relay Medicaid hotline information
- Connect patients to billing services over the phone
- Round and perform comfort check-in throughout lobbies
- Flexibility to be as assigned by the clinic needs
Location
Redwood Health Center, Salt Lake City
Purpose
Provide support for TRAILS program activities, including setup and assistance for events and various recreational sports such as cycling, skiing, kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, and more. Volunteers play a crucial role in ensuring smooth operations, assisting participants, and helping build strong relationships within the program.
Days/Hours
Hours and days based on activity, which usually happen on weekends
Qualifications / Requirements
- Healthcare or sport-specific experience required
- Volunteers are matched to activities based on their skills and experience
- Applicants may need to provide their own equipment and should have proficiency in one or more of the listed activities
- All volunteers receive in-person training tailored to their duties, including seasonal training for equipment transfers and chairlift operations
Volunteer Duties/Responsibilities
Applicants may need to provide their own equipment and should have proficiency in one or more of the following activities
- Events: Help set up and take down tables, chairs, pop-up tents, and posters
- Cycling (including mountain and city biking): Bike set up and take down, checking bikes, assisting participants and program staff; transfers, support riding
- Downhill skiing: Assist in staging equipment and participant transfers into and out of equipment, assist instructor and participant in loading and unloading the chairlift, acting as an uphill “umbrella” to block uphill skiers from interfering with participants
- Nordic skiing: Assist in staging equipment and participant transfers into and out of equipment, and ski alongside participants
- Kayaking/Paddle Boarding: Assist in staging equipment, assisting participants in transferring into and out of equipment, paddling alongside participants
- Sailing: Provide on-boat support for participants
Location
Varies based on activity, often outdoors throughout Utah’s Wasatch Front