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NewYork-Presbyterian/ColumbiaUniversity Medical Center
Volunteer Services Department
Energy Court 2nd Floor
622 West 168th Street
New York, NY 10032
Phone - (212) 305-2542
Fax - (212) 305-8911
E-mail us your application!
Maps and Directions to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center
Advocacy Counseling and Entitlement Services (ACES)
Volunteers provide in person and phone counseling to patients regarding all city, state, and federal benefit entitlement programs. Provide resource information and make referrals to appropriate agencies. Training provided.
Available Fridays 10 AM - 4 PM
Ambulatory Care Clinics
Volunteers act as liaisons between patients/families and staff. Assist patients and families in waiting rooms, with registration, pre-operative tasks and escorting. Clerical responsibilities may include answering phones, computer/data entry and filing. Good interpersonal skills required.
Available Monday through Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Clerical
This opportunity offers the chance for a volunteer to become a valuable member of a department team. Volunteers will provide much needed general office assistance at the direction of departmental staff. Duties may include answering telephones, filing, data entry or light typing, labeling, running errands, etc. Pleasant personality and accuracy are important. Opportunities are available in various settings: clinics, nursing units, doctor office, administration etc.
Available Monday through Friday 9 AM - 5 PM
Emergency Department (Adult)
With genuine concern and compassion, volunteers in the emergency department provide emotional support to the patients and their families in the waiting room. Volunteers liaise between patients, families and clinical staff, and are trained in various methods of interaction with children such as one to one or group readings, board games, activities, drawing, etc. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
Available daily 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm, 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Errand Solution Ambassadors
Welcome patients and families who have recently admitted to the unit. A model that involves the use of volunteers as “Ambassadors” to bring services to the bedside.
Available Monday through Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Gift Shop
The gift shop is looking for friendly, pleasant volunteers, who are able to stand for prolonged periods and could help put away stock, check and price new merchandise, stock gift cart, tag samples for display.
Available daily 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Interpreter Program
The NewYork-Presbyterian serves a very diverse community. Some of our patients need language assistance as they are cared for at our hospital. Volunteers will serve as an interpreter throughout the hospital. Bilingual volunteers provide the critical service of medical interpretation for limited English speaking patients and their health care providers. Aggressive recruitment for bi-lingual English-Spanish. Intensive training is provided.
Available Monday through Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Nursing
Similar to the Emergency Department the volunteers role is to add an additional personal dimension of genuine concern and compassion to patients and their families, improve the quality of care, and to assist the staff as needed in the delivery of care. The volunteer, by letting patients and their families know that someone is concerned about their emotional and physical needs, and is there to assist in finding solutions to their concerns, can have a significant impact on the individuals perception of their hospital experience. Volunteers also provide an invaluable service by assisting the Nursing staff in fulfilling their roles and duties.
Services Areas include: Medicine, Surgery, Neurology, Oncology, Cardiology, Transplant, Rehabilitation, and Psychiatry.
Available daily 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Occupational/Physical Therapy
Volunteers assist therapists with follow-up phone surveys, appointment confirmation and patient registration. They greet patients upon arrival, and assist therapists with a variety of tasks such as setup/cleanup of the treatment area, organizing materials, assisting with treatment group, folding towels, sheets, and gowns.
Available Monday through Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Pastoral Care
General chaplaincy volunteers are people with good listening skills who are warm, caring and concerned. Volunteers visit patients throughout the hospital and assess the need for a chaplain.
Available daily 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Rape Crisis/Domestic and other Violence Emergencies
The DOVE Program is seeking caring and dedicated volunteers to work with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault as Crisis Counselors / Advocates in the Emergency Depts. of Columbia University Medical Center. Advocates help the survivor, family members and important others to cope with the immediate after-effects of the trauma. They accompany survivors during their stay in the emergency room ensuring that survivors understand their rights and options and that they receive sensitive and timely treatment. Advocates serve as supportive intermediaries with emergency room staff and others involved in responding to the traumatic event. For more information, please see flier under "Related Links" on the right side of this page or contact Henrietta Shannon at(212) 305-4726
Pet Therapy
The pet therapy program provides patients with the opportunity to interact with animals during their hospitalization or clinic visit. These interactions can improve morale, help patients cope with feelings of isolation and loneliness, and stimulate social interaction. All dogs enrolled must meet health and behavioral certification requirements prior to visiting patients. Staff of the Child Life Program will supervise all procedures and visitation.
Available daily 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Same Day Surgery
Volunteers assist nursing staff in the recovery area and/or waiting area of the surgical day suite. They provide valuable assistance by interacting with both staff and families.
Available Monday through Friday 9:00-5:00 pm
Waiting Room Liaison aka T.L.C. volunteers
T.L.C., or tender loving care, now also stands for Trained Liaison Comforters. Volunteers act as a liaison between staff and family members in the waiting area outside the operating rooms and Intensive Care Units. Often there's more suffering in the waiting room than in the unit. Volunteers, therefore, offer an ear to listen, a hand to hold, a shoulder to cry on, and a pair of legs with which to enter the unit and find out what is going on with their patient. Even the smallest bit of information can be comforting to families. Volunteers also provide visitors with information about hospital services. Strong communication and customer service skills are required. Must be 18 years of age or older.
Available Monday through Friday 9 AM - 8 PM
Updated 6/25/08
