Volunteer

It is our goal at Swedish Medical Center to provide clinical excellence and exceptional service to our patients, physicians and employees and to preserve and strengthen our tradition of community service.

We offer a variety of unique volunteer opportunities that allow you to create extraordinary patient experiences within our facilities. Examples include:

• Staffing our information desk and waiting rooms
• Adding support and comfort on our patient floors and in our emergency department
• Delivering flowers, packages and mail to patients
• Visiting patients and escorting visitors throughout the hospital
• Staffing our cancer resource center
• Volunteering with our animal-assisted therapy program through Denver Pet Partners
• Becoming a part of our No One Dies Alone Program
• Joining our junior volunteer program for ages 14 years old 17 years old

Whether you are volunteering to fulfill a service requirement, to make new friends or to make an impact at our hospital, it's been proven that volunteering is beneficial to you as well as the organization and people you work with.

In addition to working at a fun, close-knit organization that is forwarding a positive mission, our volunteers enjoy a few perks as a token of our thanks:

• An orientation to the hospital and its operations
• A uniform to denote your special status
• Free parking in a reserved area
• A free meal with each four-hour shift
• Service awards
• Above all, the chance to make a difference!

Please note all new volunteers are required to commit to a consistent weekly basis: four hours per week for a minimum of six months for a total of 100 hours of service. Only three absences are permissible during the initial six-month period. Please note an application does not guarantee placement in the program.

We strongly recommend that you assess your schedule (academic, employment and extracurricular activities) and availability to determine if you are able to fulfill this requirement prior to applying. If your background check is approved by our human resources department, we will then be happy to extend an invitation for you to interview and if selected, attend a new volunteer orientation and discuss individual placement opportunities.

Ideal applicants for our junior volunteer program must be self-directed, motivated and demonstrate exceptional customer service and communication skills and have a strong interest in pursuing a career in healthcare. They must be between 14 and 17 years old.

Follow the steps below to get you on your way to becoming a Swedish volunteer.

1. Complete the adult volunteer application or the junior volunteer application.
2. Complete the health screening form.
3. Complete the background check form.
4. Submit the completed form via e-mail, or and send via mail to:

Volunteer Services at Swedish Medical Center
501 East Hampden Ave.
Englewood, CO 80113

Thank you for your interest in our volunteer program. All volunteer positions are nonclinical and placement is contingent on your interests and the needs of the hospital.

Animal-assisted therapy

Animals enrich our lives. Denver Pet Partners enhances lives and promotes the human-animal bond through animal-assisted patient visitation therapy at Swedish through trained Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) handler teams. Are you and your pet interested in becoming animal-assisted therapy volunteers at our hospital? Visit Denver Pet Partners online for more information.

Cancer resource center

Our cancer resource center offers a one-stop comprehensive resource for cancer patients and their families to receive information and assistance. Our center is associated with the American Cancer Society and is operated by staff and volunteers trained to assist individuals in finding and obtaining cancer resources, including appointment management, chaplaincy services, educational and emotional support services, integrated health services (acupuncture, massage), nutritional and palliative care services, wigs, and social work services and support groups. Volunteer positions are available Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm. Contact us now to be a part of this exciting program and help make a difference in a cancer patient's life.

Chaplain

Do you have a heart to serve others during a crisis situation? If so, consider becoming a chaplain volunteer. Chaplains are here to provide support to patients and their families dealing with life-altering situations and diagnoses. They are here to provide support, comfort and faith during these difficult and stressful times. We are looking for volunteers who are willing to do routine visits and respond to emergencies. This position is primarily for weekday evenings beginning at 4 p.m. and on-call overnight during the week. Candidates must be able to volunteer at least once a month and there is no limit to how many times a month you can sign up. To apply, please contact our director of chaplaincy, Gina Graves.

Gastrointestinal (GI) lab

We are looking for dynamic volunteers to assist in our GI lab. Your primary responsibilities include assessing unit nutrition needs, completing the order form and fax or take down to food and nutrition services; stock patient refreshment area and linen in rooms; maintaining inventory of patient discharge folders, stuff folders, assembling scope identification tags, and storing folders and report need to order folders and contents as necessary; assisting with wipe down and make carts after out-patient leaves; escorting patients and family members to and from the waiting room and transport discharged patients down to valet by wheelchair or escort the ambulatory patient; answering phones and miscellaneous office and filing duties. Positions are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday mornings.

Emergency department

Our hospital has the expertise and experience to treat emergency patients with the most complicated illnesses and injuries at our Englewood location as well as our Southwest Emergency Department and Belmar Emergency Department. Our experts treat nearly 70,000 patients annually, and our volunteers are an integral part of the process. Working with our ED personnel in nonclinical capacities, our volunteers enhance patients' visits. Volunteer positions are available seven days a week from 8:00am to 10:00pm.

Multitrauma unit meal pals

Looking for a very rewarding and personal patient-volunteer experience? Consider volunteering on our multitrauma unit in our Meal Pals patient program by providing feeding assistance and companionship for patients recovering from a spinal cord or brain injury. For many of these patients, mealtime is one of the most important and rewarding aspects of their days. Patients view this as a special time to visit, relax and enjoy their meals. Receiving adequate nutrition and finishing a meal is essential to their care. Working concurrently with our multitrauma nursing staff, volunteers receive contact precaution and feeding assistance training to make the most out of this unique and fulfilling experience.

No One Dies Alone program

No One Dies Alone is a volunteer program that provides the reassuring presence of a companion to dying patients who would otherwise be alone. With the support of the nursing staff, companions are able to help provide patients with a priceless human gift: a dignified death.

Unit ambassadors

Unit ambassadors provide a welcoming environment for visitors, aid the nursing floors by assisting with recurrent tasks that help ease the department's workload. The following is just a sample of tasks: greeting and directing visitors to patients' rooms; answering phone and call lights; stocking supplies and checking for expiration dates; O2 tank storage; clean and stock nourishments rooms; regulatory readiness; miscellaneous office projects and keeping the waiting areas in order. A commitment to excellence and a desire to be of exceptional assistance is a must. Qualifications for this position require good communication, customer service skills, proper phone etiquette and professionalism. Each nursing unit might provide its own orientation.

Patient ambassadors/escorts and patient visitation

Our dedicated volunteers are valued members of our healthcare team and are integral in our delivering clinical excellence and exceptional service. These essential volunteers are committed to ensuring all patients and guests are welcomed here. As some of our most valued volunteer positions, ambassadors escort patients and visitors to their destinations. Patient visitation volunteers spend time conversing with patients who could benefit most from a visit. A commitment to service excellence and a desire to be of exceptional assistance to our patients and visitors is a must for these positions. Physical requirements: the ability to walk, stand and sit for extended periods of time.

Swedish Family Medicine clinic patient portal education volunteer

Swedish Family Medicine is a primary care clinic and physician residency training program. Volunteers work with our patients in the reception area assisting patients with accessing the eClinicalWorks patient portal or the Healow app. This technology-focused opportunity helps patients access their electronic health records, allowing them to see lab results, message their provider, request appointments and more. The position is available on weekdays between the hours of 8:00am to noon and 1:00pm to 5:00pm. The volunteer must be comfortable with technology and be willing to teach patients that are 18 years of age and older how to access their own information.

Volunteer placement is determined by the interest, skills and availability of prospective candidates and the needs of our hospital.

Should you have any additional questions, please contact our volunteer service office Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm by calling (303) 788-6558.