Welcome to Volunteer Services
Are you recently retired and looking for something rewarding to do with your time? Would you have as little as four hours a week to make a difference in someone's life? Are you looking for a way to enrich your lifestyle and are not sure of where to start?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should consider becoming a volunteer for Lancaster General Health. There are numerous clerical, greeter, transporter, and/or patient care opportunities available.
Lancaster General Health has 700 volunteers at our many dynamic entities and are consistently looking for devoted and friendly people to commit to volunteering with our clinical or non-clinical staff.
For more information on how you can volunteer, simply contact our office at 544-5005 to learn more.
Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Mission
The mission of the Volunteer Services Department is to provide high quality ancillary support services to the customers we serve; i.e. staff, patients of Lancaster General Health, and their family members.
Description
Lancaster General Hospital has a reputation for excellence and has been recognized with multiple distinctions and awards such as:
- Magnet Hospital - Nursing Excellence Designation
- Cardiology, Orthopedic & ICU Benchmark for Success Awards
- Level II Trauma Center
- 100 Top Hospitals Award
- VHA Leadership Award for Clinical Effectiveness
- U.S. News & World Report's 2005 America's Best Hospitals in five specialies
- Hospital & Health Network magazine's Most Wired Award for five consecutive years
- Best Places to Work in PA honors (named again in October 2006)
- US News America's Best
History
Lancaster General Hospital is a 590 bed non-profit, community-based hospital located in Lancaster County, PA. Established in 1893, Lancaster General Health is one of the commonwealth's busiest hospitals, performing more than 650,000 outpatient procedures annually. The Emergency Department receives over 90,000 patients a year. Lancaster General Health is the county's largest employer.
As the area's leading healthcare provider, Lancaster General Health continues to expand its facilities to meet the medical needs of our community as well as the personal and professional satisfaction of our employees and volunteers. The Lancaster General Health Orthopedic Center welcomed its first patients in December, 2004. The center has since expanded opening a new orthopedic unit on our 4East floor.
Lancaster General Health has entities throughout Lancaster County including: Orthopedic Center (at the Main Hospital), Women & Babies Hospital, Surburban Outpatient Pavilion, Kissel Hill Outpatient Center (Lititz), Norlanco Family Medicine (Elizabethtown), Willow Lakes Outpatient Center (Willow Street), Columbia Outpatient Center (Columbia), and Walter Aument Family Health Center (Quarryville). In addition, Lancaster General Medical Group, our Physician Practices, offers additional opportunities to volunteer.
Volunteer Services
Volunteers are vital to the operations of our facilities, as they contribute their time and talents to serve our community. Their time commitments range from 3-4+ hours per week to 20+ hours per month. Due to the paperwork and orientation involvement, a minimum of 40 hours over a six-month period of time is requested. After a few weeks of volunteering, you will notice that just by putting in 4-5 hours a week, you will have 40 hours completed in 2 to 2 1/2 months.
Benefits
There are many benefits to volunteering. Below is a short list of the exciting opportunities awaiting you:
- Personal Satisfaction - you will receive tremendous rewards from your volunteer experience.
- Flexible hours - pick the day(s) of the week and hours you prefer (minor exceptions apply to certain assignments).
- Free parking
- Discounts - on meals in our cafeteria, cafe, and medications in the convenience Pharmacy.
- Free annual TB testing and flu immunizations.
- Employee Service Center - purchase Lancaster General Health gift items, receive discounts on tickets and trips.
- Annual Recognition Breakfast - held in April or May each year. Volunteers are recognized for their hours of volunteer service to the community.
Types of Volunteers
- United Auxiliaries is made up of five local community Auxiliaries that form the United Auxiliaries. Separately and as a whole, the Auxiliaries engage in fundraising (Gift Shop, vendor sales, etc.) and also volunteer throughout the hospital to help both the patients and the overall mission of Lancaster General. Auxiliaries have funded additions to the Women and Babies Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Pediatric area of the Emergency Department and the Orthopedic Center.
- Sewing - Lancaster General Health currently has more than 2,500 volunteers who give their time to mend patient gowns, sheets, curtains, etc.
- Songs for the Journey - non-denominational volunteer music ministry designed to bring peace and comfort to the dying and their families through music.
- Companions for the Journey - volunteers who sit with the dying patient who are without the physical comfort of friends or family.
- Knitters - many volunteers knit special caps for our oncology (cancer) and neuro (head) patients, babies, and pediatric (children) patients.
- On-Call - we have a special group of volunteers that help with special mailings or office projects periodically during the year.
A list of our most needed volunteer assignments can be found at volunteersolutions.org. Simply type in health care as the keyword and your zip code.
If you are interested in volunteering at Lancaster General Health or one of our entities, please call our office at (717) 544-5005 to request an informational packet which will include an application, drug screening form, and information on the monthly mandatory orientation.