Volunteer Opportunities at WVU Healthcare

WVU Healthcare accepts three types of volunteers: Juniors (age 14-18), college students and adults.

• Junior Volunteers — accepted only for summer.
  Next enrollment period Monday, April 2, 2012 to Friday, May 4, 2012.
• College Students — next enrollment period is Monday, April 2, 2012 to Friday, May 4, 2012 for the Summer semester.
• Adults — may apply anytime.

Volunteering at WVU Healthcare is your chance to be someone who makes a difference by helping others. Giving your time, commitment, and compassion enables us to provide added services that contribute to patient care.

Volunteers provide that human touch. We need our Volunteers – we depend on them and appreciate their services.

In return, Volunteers have the opportunity to learn, explore health careers, make new friends, develop new skills, and – most of all – enjoy the satisfaction that comes from helping others. As a Volunteer, you can make a personal contribution of your time and make your hours of service something special to you.

What are the hours?

Volunteers have a choice of morning, afternoon or evening hours, depending on the area selected. The schedules consist of 4-hour shifts. A minimum of four hours per week is all that is required to join the team. Volunteers are expected to commit to a minimum total of 40 hours of service.

The Interview

Upon receipt of your application we will contact you by phone to schedule an interview with the Director of Volunteer Services. The interview process will give us a chance to get to know you and give you the opportunity to find out more about our program. Once we have met and discussed your skills, interests and past experiences, we will be better prepared to match you with a volunteer position that will both fulfill your expectations and provide a needed service to the hospital. Please bring your immunization record to the interview. All applicants will be interviewed and if you are 14 - 17 years of age a parent/legal guardian must be present at the time of the interview.

During the interview, you will be scheduled for hospital orientation. All new volunteers are required to attend orientation prior to volunteering. Orientation provides an introduction to our hospital and basic information regarding our policies and procedures, patient confidentiality, emergency preparedness, dress code, etc. If you are hired as a volunteer, you will be asked to go to our Human Resources Department to have a photo I.D. badge made and you will also be asked to take your immunization record to the Employee Health Department. All volunteers are required to purchase a uniform. Your references will be checked prior to or shortly after your interview.

What immunizations are required?

In order to provide a safe environment for both the patient and volunteers, volunteers are required to provide documentation of the following immunizations prior to start date:

• Tetanus: within the past 10 years. (Recommended Tdap)
• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR): proof of two separate doses
• Chicken Pox: Documentation of history
• Hepatitis B: Series of three immunizations, at least one must be administered prior to start.
• Tuberculosis Skin test (TB): If you have not received a skin test within the past 12 months, a two step (2nd TB skin tests) will be administered 7 to 10 days after initial skin test placement.

Additional considerations are:

Employee Health will administer the TB skin test, Hepatitis B immunizations (only specific locations), and Tdap vaccines. A questionable chicken pox history will be verified with a blood test to determine antibody levels. The volunteer will be responsible for the Varivax (chicken pox) vaccine if needed. Documentation of two separate doses is required. Volunteers born before 1957 will be tested for antibody levels for MMR. In the event a volunteer has a negative antibody titer, the volunteer will be responsible for obtaining the additional immunizations prior to start.

A history of receiving BCG immunizations does not exclude a volunteer from T.B. skin testing. This will be reviewed with the volunteer at the time of the visit. In the event a volunteer has a positive T.B. skin test reading, the volunteer will be required to be evaluated by a physician for a chest X-ray and possible prophylactic therapy with INH. The cost of this treatment is the responsibility of the volunteer. A copy of the chest X-ray report and physician evaluation will be required prior to being approved to volunteer.

It is imperative to have all vaccination records reviewed by the Employee Health Clinician prior to obtaining any additional vaccinations.

Junior Volunteers must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The Junior Volunteers will be receiving ONLY a T.B. skin test. Junior volunteers must obtain any necessary immunizations from their medical provider. Junior volunteers with questionable or no history of chicken pox must see their medical provider for vaccination or provide documentation of positive Varicella antibody.

At the completion of all required vaccinations, the Employee Health Clinician will return the signed volunteer approval slip to the volunteer for delivery to the Volunteer Service Department.

Please note: Junior Volunteer applicants must be accompanied by a parent during their interview.