McDowell Hospital has a variety of volunteer positions with flexible hours to suit a range of skills and talents.  The following list includes patient-related and non-patient-related volunteer placement areas.  If you are interested in volunteering, contact the hospital at 828-659-5000.

Registration Greeter	Surgical Waiting Room
Front Lobby Greeter	Window Box Gift Shop
Labor & Delivery	Emergency Room
Med / Surg Department	Clerical
Pet Therapy Coordinator	Concierge Services
Pet Therapy Handler	VolunTEENS

Registration Greeter

• Assist patients to appropriate admission window or department
• Communicates with patients and admission clerks
• Provides wheel chair service for patients as needed
• Assists with clerical duties, ED billing, and filing

Surgical Waiting Room

• Maintain desk outside OR waiting room

• Communicate with OR staff regarding surgical schedule

• Communicates with patients and families in surgery waiting area, while maintaining patient confidentiality

• Assist in maintaining a neat, clean surgery waiting area

• Provide waiting family members with coffee, soda, etc.

• Escort Pre-Op patients to destination

Front Lobby Greeter

• Deliver mail to patients, obtain census from Switchboard to locate room number.  If patient has been discharged, call business office and get home address and forward to patient.
• Deliver balloons or flowers to patients
• Supply each child admitted with a balloon and a coloring book and crayons.
• Answer Lobby phone

• Help visitors and guests find their destination

• Provide wheel chair service

• Help in gift shop as needed

• Distribute magazines and information brochures to waiting rooms

Window Box Gift Shop

• Operate cash register

• Answer telephone
• Meet and greet potential customers

• Maintain items for sale

• Check supplies of tissue and gift bags
• Put all paperwork for the day in the appropriate clipboards

• Keep ribbons straight and neat

• Blow up balloons as purchased

• Wrap and bag merchandise

Labor & Delivery Dept.

• Make charts as needed

• Transport OB patient from ER to Labor & Delivery

• Assist with discharge transport

• Deliver ice and drinks to patient rooms

Emergency Department

• Transport patients to other departments for tests or to assigned room for admission
• Assist staff in patient satisfaction measures by updating patients who are waiting for tests, results, etc.
• Replenish linen stocks as needed
• Assist with cleaning of patient rooms and some reusable equipment
• Keep stores of tubes, IV pumps, etc. in good supply
• Assist patients as directed by staff
• Listen to patients' concerns and, as appropriate, report those concerns to ED staff
• Fill blanket warmer
• Run errands and make pick-up and or deliveries for staff as requested
• Assist with other duties as requested

Medical / Surgery Department

• Transport (discharged) patients

• Make admission packets

• Empty recycle bins

• Assist visiting family members

• Make copies or charts

• Check rooms for gloves and cal-stat

• Transport Chemo for Outpatients

• Refresh Ice Pitchers

Clerical

• Filing in Doctor's Offices

• Data Entry as needed

Pet Therapy Coordinator

• Act as liaison between the volunteer dog/handler teams and patients, staff, & visitors

• Accompany dog/handler teams to approved patient rooms
• Actively facilitate visit between dog/handler teams & patient and document results

• Help meet needs of patient families

Concierge Services

• Seeks out guests in public areas who may need directions or assistance

• Escorts visitors or guests to destinations and engages in conversation
• Obtains wheelchairs for guests as needed
• Provides assistance to visitors and guests as needed

Pet Therapy Handler

• Each team consists of one dog and one handler (personal owner)

• Seeks to improve patient's overall well-being through team visits
• Seeks to reduce the possible stressful effects of hospitalization and make stay a more positive experience
• *Handler must remain in control of dog at all times, including maintaining a hold on the leash

VolunTEENS

• Jr. High / High School Students 14+ volunteer during school breaks and summer vacation