Overview

There are many departments and programs at Jamaica Hospital where volunteers are assigned to carry out their service. The list below will give you a small window into some areas and show the diversity of available volunteer opportunities. Assignments may involve indirect patient / client contact, and others that are focused on clerical support. Assignments are available depending on department or program specific needs at any given time. Therefore, qualified volunteers are being sought for the following activities:

This opportunity requires volunteers to be ambassadors and liaisons among patients, families, and staff. Volunteers provide non-medical information in a professional and compassionate manner to family and guests of surgical patients. Escort patients and family to the Ambulatory Outpatient Surgery unit and engage in active listening to ensure patients are comfortable while they wait to be seen. Volunteers must have strong communication and customer service skills. Training will be provided.

Time frame: Monday to Friday with available hours between 6:00 am- 5:00 pm

This program seeks to reduce the sense of isolation in the hospital. To provide patients with compassionate and attentive care; thus, provide a comforting presence. Volunteers are responsible for providing a comforting presence to patients, reading books or magazines to patients, engaging patients in conversation when appropriative, and simply sitting with patients to be a listening ear. Training will be provided.

Available daily with flexible hours.

Volunteer ambassadors assist patients and staff in the Emergency Department by offering compassionate and attentive care; thus, providing a comforting presence, volunteers providing comfort care to patients and family by rounding and honoring patients and family request with input from staff. They provide navigation services to ensure patients are directed to their assigned area of care, allowing staff to perform elements of their positions.

Available daily with flexible hours.

This opportunity allows volunteers to explore the Occupational and Physical Therapy field to fulfill education requirements for OT/PT schools or pre-application.

Availability: Monday to Friday between 9:00 am- 4:00 pm

Seeking volunteers who are compassionate and like helping others to provide assistance on our patient units. Volunteers round on patients on the nursing units to ensure patient satisfaction, assist with Cup of Kindness (between 2pm- 4pm), and answer call bells.

Available daily with flexible hours.

Volunteers provide a wide range of clerical support for departments throughout the medical center. Duties may include filing, answering phones, data entry, and typing.

Availability: Monday to Saturday between 9:00 am- 5:00 pm.

Volunteers serve as a liaison between the staff, patient, and the patient’s family/escort, providing guidance and direction throughout the various locations. Volunteers will greet patients and/or visitors upon arrival at each location. Engage those needing help with assistive devices, escort patients and visitors to proper location to lesson anxiety.

REQUIREMENTS: Volunteers must be mature, compassionate, empathetic, and have strong interpersonal and communications ability. Provide non-clinical information. Bilingual is a plus.

Availability: Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

BENEFITS TO PATIENTS, FAMILY AND VISITORS

• Lesson patient, family and visitors’ anxiety
• Be on time for appointments
• Being taken care of with VIP service.
• Engage in social interaction with a smile

We offer the opportunity to provide entertainment to our patients by maximizing patient engagement. If you play an instrument and would love to volunteer your time and talent, we would like to hear from you. Volunteers will provide 3-6 hours per month of live instrumental or vocal music through respectful engagement with patients, families, and staff.

Help us promote patient satisfaction with our Cup of Kindness initiative.  We are seeking volunteers to greet and provide social interaction with patients, families, and staff. Volunteers visit our patients and provide tea, healthy snacks, and refreshments, creating the perfect opportunity to start a conversation and learn how their day is going.

Time commitment: Monday- Friday 2 hours per day

DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR THE NYC-DYCD SUMMER PROGRAM IS FEBRUARY- MARCH USUALLY WITH AN EXTENDED DATE ((TBD)

Jamaica hospital hosts an annual summer program in partnership with the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development. – NYC-DYCD. Under the DYCD providers such as Police Athletic League and Queens Community through a lottery system choose and assign accepted participants to the hospital. Participants may work up to 25 hours per week and are paid minimum wage by the DYCD. The program lasts for 6 weeks; July through August.  For more information, please visit the New York City Summer Youth Employment Program website.