Making a Difference
At Saint John's Health Center, volunteers make a real difference because they become an integral part of the Saint John's family through a carefully designed program of service that allows them to perform many hours of assistance in carefully selected areas. We are truly blessed to have an amazing group of volunteers who support our Mission by helping to create an exceptional place for health and healing.
Saint John's Health Center has more than 325 volunteers ranging in age from 16 to 95 years old. Our volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and bring with them varying experiences and skills. New volunteers start every month and others have been with us for many years. One of our volunteers has been with us for over 43 years!
Saint John's volunteers can be seen throughout the Health Center supporting our patients and staff in many ways. Volunteers are assigned to at least 45 different departments where they perform an array of duties. Depending on individual interests, some of our volunteers work directly with patients and others provide invaluable assistance in hospital support areas. We are always looking to add dedicated and compassionate members to our volunteer family.
What Can You Do?
Saint John's offers a variety of different opportunities to its volunteers. Some include:
Reception Areas - Greet visitors and patients, give directions and assist with way finding, answer phones, deliver flowers and mail to patients, answer visitors' questions and oversee the Family Waiting Room.
Transportation Team - Transport specimens to the lab, pick up and deliver blood, medical records and medical supplies and transport patients at discharge.
Office Support - File, make copies, computer input, answer phones, run errands and open and sort mail.
Magazine program - Sort through donated magazines, discard outdated & inappropriate magazines, label magazines with Saint John's sticker and deliver magazines to health center waiting areas.
Surgery Waiting Room - Check-in visitors waiting for patients in surgery, notify staff that family members are waiting, ensure room is well maintained and update family members on patient's status as information becomes available.
Gift Shop and Positive Appearance Center - Ring up purchases, assist customers, stock shelves and deliver items to patients.
Nursing Unit - This assignment combines patient assistance and clerical duties. Greet patients and visitors to the unit, visit with patients and their families, answer patient call lights, transport specimens to the lab, assist patients in completing menus, read to/write letters for patients, provide patients and visitors with magazines, provide health center directions, stock unit kitchen, answer phones, straighten blankets and fluff pillows, assist with the delivery of meals and file/assemble admit packets.
Nifty Needlers - Knit caps and booties for the newborns born at Saint John's Health Center. Yarn is provided.
- Paula Kent Meehan Pawsitive Pet Program – This exciting new program brings registered Delta Pet Partner dog/handler teams to the bedside of our patients. For more information about this program, or how to become a Delta Pet Partner, please call the Volunteer Services Office at (310) 829-8438.
Please note that the following volunteer positions have very limited availability.
Minimum Requirements
Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older
Commit to at least one 4-hour shift per week
Commit to a minimum of 100 hours of service to be completed in one calendar year
Volunteers must be supportive and sensitive to the needs of all patients, families, visitors, physicians and Saint John's personnel.
Volunteers must adhere to the policies of Saint John's Health Center
Volunteers must have the desire to serve others in a caring, compassionate manner
Getting Started
If you are interested in volunteering at Saint John's Health Center, the first thing you need to do is attend one of our 1½ hour orientations. Orientations are generally held every other month. However, due to the overwhelming interest in our Volunteer Program, we have slowed down our orientation schedule to ensure that all applicants are processed and placed in assignments before we bring on any additional volunteers.
At this time, our March 2011 orientation is full, as is our waiting list. Our next orientation will be in June or July 2011, but no date has been set at this time. If you are interested in signing up for our next orientation, please call the Volunteer Services Office at (310) 829-8438 on Wednesday, May 11th. That is the first day we will start accepting reservations. Please note that reservations are accepted on a first come first serve basis. The office opens at 9am. Seating is limited and the meetings fill up quickly.
Following the orientation, you will schedule a one-on-one interview with the Director of Volunteer Services. If it is determined that you are a good match for our program and our program is a good match for you, you will be invited to attend our 4-hour training.
Health Requirement
All volunteers are required to complete a health clearance check before they are able to begin. This involves the following steps:
Undergo a basic physical examination performed by your own doctor, and have the doctor complete the Saint John's Health Center Volunteer Health Clearance Form. Volunteers receive the Volunteer Health Clearance Form after being accepted into the program.
Submit proof of Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Chickenpox vaccine, if available. If you do not have these records, a blood test can be ordered to test for immunities.
Complete a Tuberculin Screening through the Employee Health Office, which consists of 2 PPD skin tests. These tests are offered free of charge. If you have a history of a positive skin test, a chest x-ray will be ordered.
Background Clearance Requirement
Volunteers 18 years of age and older are required to complete a background clearance before they are able to begin.
When You Are Needed
Volunteers are needed on weekdays, weekends and evenings.
What To Wear
Saint John's Health Center volunteers (with few exceptions) are required to wear a uniform. Our uniform consists of your own tan/beige pants, tan or white shirt, and a Saint John's Health Center navy blue jacket. Jackets are sold for $25 each.
How You'll Benefit
People choose to volunteer at Saint John's for a number of reasons. They want to:
Give back to the community
Stay active
Explore the field of medicine
Make new friends
Fulfill a Community Service requirement
Learn new skills
Volunteers report a sense of pride and accomplishment once they see that they really can make a difference!
Other benefits include:
Free parking during your hours of service
A free coffee, tea, water or soda during your hours of service
Discount on purchases in our cafeteria
Letter of recommendation upon completion of 100 hours of service
Free annual flu shot
Invitation to our annual volunteer recognition event
Awards for hours of service
For more information on how to become part of this rewarding experience, please call the Volunteer Center at 310-829-8438.