To become a volunteer, please apply through our online form.
To become a volunteer, you must:
- Complete a criminal background check
- Complete a medical history form and provide proof of immunization
- Attend a volunteer orientation
You will receive a badge and uniform at orientation. Badges and uniforms belong to Baystate Medical Center and must be returned at the end of your volunteer service.
Contact
Tanya Dorman, Coordinator, Volunteer Services
759 Chestnut Street
Springfield MA, 01199
413-794-4210
Volunteer.Services@baystatehealth.org
Volunteer Opportunities
There are many opportunities for you to make a difference as a volunteer at Baystate Medical Center and other Springfield based entities. This is a brief listing of some of the current areas that might have volunteer vacancies. Other possibilities may be discussed during the interview session. This listing will be updated from time to time.
NODA (No One Dies Alone) Volunteers
Mature adults are needed to provide a reassuring, non-anxious presence to actively dying patients who do not have sufficient support from family or friends. Volunteers may also provide support to families of actively dying patients to ensure that patients will not be left alone during their dying process if presence and company is desired. Volunteers provide companionship as requested which includes sitting at bedside conveying a reassuring, non-anxious presence and emotional support to patients and families, reading of requested literature, assisting with music or writing letters and assisting with patient and family needs as assessed in collaboration with nursing and other clinical personnel. We recruit for this program several times a year. Read a volunteer's story to learn more.
Geri Pals Volunteers
Volunteers can help to reduce loneliness and social isolation in older adults while making our communities more cohesive and engaged. This program aims to support homebound older adults and their caregivers as they are aging in place. We will identify underserved elders, through our Geri Pals Virtual Calls program, in the greater Springfield area to be candidates to receive support from volunteers. The program is largely geared towards serving individuals living with a cognitive impairment, mild, or moderate dementia. Our goal is to engage the home-bound person while providing some much-needed respite to their caregiver. Volunteers will spend a couple of hours per week on the telephone or video to bring joy to someone that can greatly benefit from this human-to-human connection!
Volunteer receives training regarding dementia, habilitation therapy and ideas for activities/conversations as appropriate.
Volunteers speak with up to 4 community members each week for a 6-month commitment.
Wayfinders and Escort Volunteers
We need volunteers who enjoy helping people and are physically able to walk unassisted for long distances. Volunteers will be stationed at the information desks in the Daly Lobby (main entrance to the hospital), the Chestnut Surgery Center entrance and the Wesson Women's Lobby. These volunteers escort patients and visitors throughout the hospital. These volunteers also push people in wheelchairs when needed. Information Desk volunteers are some of the first people that patients and visitors meet when entering the hospital and therefore need to possess excellent customer service skills. Teens, as well as adults, are welcome to apply for these positions.
Patient Visitor and Safety Volunteers
Patient Visitors help provide a positive patient experience by giving non-medical personal attention and assistance to patients that may not be receiving visits.
Various inpatient nursing units are looking for volunteers to help make the patient’s stay a positive and safe experience. As part of the patient care team, volunteers will interact with patients and their visitors and support the units’ goals of keeping patients safe and comfortable. Volunteers play a key role in making the difference between a good hospital stay and an excellent experience. These volunteers can be teens or adults but must have a very outgoing personality with the ability to follow directions, act independently (once oriented to the unit) and be very observant. These volunteers will need to be able to stand for periods of time and independently navigate the nursing unit in a safe and efficient manner.
Emergency Department Volunteers
At this time, the Emergency Department is not able to accept volunteers.
ACE (Acute Care for Elders) Unit Volunteers
Volunteers assist staff to help make each patient's stay a positive experience. As part of the patient care team, volunteers assist unit staff with the wellness needs of patients to attain established care team goals. The primary responsibilities focus on ambulating (walking) patients 70 years and older, as well as providing cognitive (mental) stimulation. These interactions help the patients avoid decline in physical and mental functioning while hospitalized, reduce the chance for falls and increase the chance that patients will be able to return to their pre-admission baseline status at time of discharge (avoiding transfers to extended nursing care or rehab facilities whenever possible). Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and out of high school. This assignment is particularly good for students pursuing careers as physician assistants or physical therapists.
Chestnut Surgical and Endoscopy Suite
The Chestnut Surgical and Endoscopy Suites are used for patients having minor surgery or medical procedures that require monitored sedation. Most patients come in for their procedure and are discharged a few hours later. Volunteers are needed to help escort patients at time of discharge as well as assist nursing staff with other duties within the suites. We have openings for teens (4-7 pm) as well as adults during mornings, afternoons, and early evening. Volunteers must be physically able to push patients in wheelchairs for an extended distance as well as tolerate being on their feet for long periods of time.
Office Volunteers
We have a few areas that are in need of volunteers who have good office skills. Office settings may require volunteers to do some data entry, make phone calls, and help with filing and office organization. Some assignments are located at the main hospital and others are located within the greater Springfield area.
Family Waiting Rooms
Waiting room volunteers spend time with families in the waiting rooms providing support and general information as needed. In general, these volunteers must be able to walk long distances, use tact and courtesy when interacting with people and be very outgoing and understanding of the stress level the families are under in these areas. We have three family waiting rooms in need of volunteers.
Our Surgical Family Waiting Room is looking for early risers (Monday-Friday) to cover the early morning shift (6 am-9 am) as well as other time slots throughout the day. Volunteers in the surgical family waiting room also escort family members to the recovery room when requested.
Our Intensive Care Waiting Room need volunteers who can cover four hour shifts from 10 am-6 pm. We cannot use teen volunteers in this waiting room due to the critical status of patients in the Intensive Care Unit.
Our Heart and Vascular Critical Care Unit needs volunteers to assist in their waiting room. Volunteers are mostly needed for morning, afternoon, and early evening shifts. We cannot accommodate teens in this position given the critical status of the patients in this area.
Cafeteria Volunteers
Volunteers are needed to assist diners in our hospital’s main café. This placement consists of helping to clear tables once vacated, offering to take trays and dispose of them for people needing assistance (this may include the elderly), and insuring that the overall seating area looks clean and organized. Volunteers may also assist visitors by giving out directions to patient floors or the main lobby.
Music Volunteers
Do you have a talent in singing or playing a music instrument? Our Music Volunteers share their talents in our Lobby and on our units for our patients, visitors and staff.
Pet Therapy
Pet therapy has been shown to reduce anxiety, decrease blood pressure and heart rate, and increase relaxation, socialization, and motivation. If you have a certified Pet Therapy Dog or are interested in knowing more about the program, you may call our Pet Therapy Volunteer contact at 413-794-4210.
Volunteering with Infants and Children
There are several areas with Baystate Children's Hospital and Women's Services where volunteer services are used.
BCH Buddies
Both teens (at least 18 years old) and adults are welcome to apply to this program, which involves comforting and playing with sick children ages infancy through school age in our inpatient setting. Applicants will be interviewed and selected by one of our Child Life specialists on the Infants & Children's unit. Make sure to mention that you are interested in volunteering with children when you set up an interview appointment.
Pediatric Specialty Programs
College students majoring in child life, child development, early childhood, or elementary education, or those currently working in or retired from these fields, are encouraged to apply. However, anyone interested in playing or providing arts and crafts to children or interacting with anxious parents are welcome to apply. Please note that our pediatric programs are very popular and open positions may not always be available.
Baystate Children's Specialty Center on Wason Avenue
Children who receive care for diabetes, seizure disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, and numerous other conditions are treated in this facility. Volunteers provide play opportunities and diversion to children as they and their parents wait for admission to treatment rooms. You may also provide one-on-one play for children who need to stay for longer treatments. The goal is to create a peaceful, welcoming environment and a “fond farewell” when the child and family leave the center. College students and adults are needed for this area. Applicants for this area will be asked to complete a written questionnaire submitted to the supervising child life specialist for review.
Cuddlers
We are no longer accepting applications for the cuddler program.
