MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU Healthcare wants your help!
WVU Healthcare is recruiting volunteers who want to gain experience in the healthcare field or simply make a difference to someone experiencing a difficult time.
“Our volunteers are an important part of the work that we do here,” Jena Prokopchuk, director of Volunteer Services, said. “Their dedication and kindness touch the lives of our patients, guests, and staff alike. They are an important part of our WVU Healthcare team.”
Volunteers can serve in any of 35 different units throughout the hospital and off-campus sites. The diverse team includes retirees, working parents, homemakers, and students, ranging from 14 to 90 years old.
Responsibilities range from administrative and clerical assistance, such as preparing patient charts or answering phones, to direct patient and guest interaction, such as staffing the gift shop or communicating between physicians and loved ones while a patient is in the operating room or intensive care unit.
Volunteers can work with patients and guests of any age, from providing human warmth to the tiniest patients as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Cuddler to comforting those experiencing their last moments in the No One Dies Alone program. Diversional Activity volunteers help young or adult patients pass the time by playing games, bringing activities, or making conversation.
WVU Healthcare accepts three types of volunteers: juniors (age 14-18), college students, and adults (18 and older). Juniors are only accepted for the summer and must apply in April. College students must apply by Sept. 4 for the fall semester. Adult volunteers may apply at any time.
Volunteer Services works closely with each volunteer to match his or her interest and availability to an open position. Due to the healthcare setting, the application and training process is long, though not difficult, including providing proof of immunizations and undergoing a criminal background check (except junior volunteers), as well as being trained in patient safety and privacy.
Volunteers have a choice of morning, afternoon, or evening hours. The schedules consist of four-hour shifts. A minimum of four hours per week is all that is required to join the team.
A full list of volunteer positions as well as an application is available at http://wvuhealthcare.com/patients-and-visitors/other-useful-information-for-our-guests/volunteer-opportunities or by calling Volunteer Services at 304-598-4134.