Volunteer

Are you looking for a positive way to help your community, while enjoying the rewards and personal satisfaction of helping others?

Consider volunteering at MidState Medical Center!

Volunteers are truly "The HEART of our Community."

Volunteer Services at MidState

• Augments and complements MMC services by providing compassionate, well-trained volunteers.
• Volunteers provide customer service of the highest quality, demonstrating our core values of caring, respect and teamwork.
• Opportunities exist for adults and teens (15 years of age or older) in both clinical and non-clinical areas.

See Volunteer Opportunities below.

There are a number of ways to help:

• Auxiliary

You're cordially invited to join the more than 200 men and women who are members of the MidState Auxiliary. Auxiliary members provide service to the hospital, help and comfort patients and families, and advocate for patients and volunteers. We've been doing this since our founding in 1885!

Examples of Auxiliary activities include:

• Sponsoring ongoing patient support programs
• Fundraising activities
• Community outreach programs

For Information on joining the MidState Auxiliary

• call 203 694 8393.
• request a Volunteer Application.
• call Diamond Belejack, Manager of Volunteer Services, at 203 694 8572.
• view our Auxiliary Brochure.
• Adult Volunteer Opportunities

There are many volunteer opportunities available for anyone with a few hours a week to spare. Volunteers support the hospital in so many ways. Whether you prefer being "behind the scenes," or enjoy being with patients and visitors, there is a volunteer role just right for you.

Some volunteer opportunities include:

• Ambassadors

  MidState's public relations representatives! Volunteers meet and greet the public as they enter the Medical Center. They provide escorting and wayfinding services, as well as wheelchair assistance at the Main Entrance and Medical Office Building entrance. Volunteers also provide assistance to the Information Desk Receptionists by answering the phones and providing patient information. Computer training will be provided in order to access patient information. Must be friendly and outgoing with excellent communication and customer service skills. Volunteer opportunities mornings, afternoons and early evenings including weekends.

• Birthing Center Volunteer

  Assist the nursing and secretarial staff with various projects - assembling gift bags for new moms, putting together charts and patient handouts, answering phones, and monitoring visitors. Volunteer opportunities mornings, afternoons and evenings including weekends.

• Book Cart Volunteer

  Visit with our in-patients, offering them books or magazines for their reading pleasure at no charge and provide emotional support and friendly conversation. Volunteers are also trained in our "Fall Prevention Safety Program" by performing safety checks while visiting with patients who are at risk for falls. Must have excellent communication and listening skills, with a high level of comfort in an in-patient environment. Volunteer opportunities mornings, afternoons and evenings including weekends.

• Cancer Center Boutique Volunteers

  Our new Auxiliary Boutique located in the Cancer Center offers a wide selection of cancer support and awareness products. Volunteers assist cancer patients with their purchases as well as provide clerical support to the staff. Must have excellent communication and customer service skills with retail experience a plus. Volunteer opportunities weekdays 10a.m. - 2p.m.

• Clerical Volunteer

  If you prefer clerical, office, or computer work, many departments have various projects just waiting to utilize your skills! Good clerical and computer skills with strong attention to detail are important. Volunteer opportunities weekday mornings or afternoons.

• Clinic Support Volunteer - Anticoagulation Unit

  Excellent telephone and basic office skills are required for this new volunteer position. Volunteers will contact patients to remind them of their scheduled appointments and take messages for the clinic's staff. Office duties including faxing and copying. Wheelchair assistance may be needed at times to transport patients to other hospital services or to the Main Entrance. Volunteer opportunities Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings or afternoons.

• Desk Receptionist (Radiology & SurgiCenter)

  Assist the staff in these very busy departments by answering phones, greeting patients and family members as they check in for appointments, provide clerical support, act as liaison between staff and patient/family to promote customer satisfaction and running errands. Must be people-oriented with excellent communication and customer service skills. Volunteer opportunities weekday mornings and afternoons and no weekends.

• Diabetes Center Volunteer

  Located at the Medical Services building on Pomeroy Avenue, volunteers provide clerical support by assembling educational materials, handouts, mailings and assisting with diabetes educational projects and events. Must have good clerical and computer skills with strong attention to detail. Volunteer opportunities weekdays.

• Emergency Department Clinical Volunteer

  Volunteers support the healthcare team in the clinical area of this very busy unit by transporting patients, making up stretchers, providing comfort measures to patients and family members, and running errands. Rounding on patients and keeping patients informed about any delays promote customer satisfaction. This is an excellent opportunity for college students planning to enter the medical field. Must be comfortable in an Emergency Department environment with excellent communication and customer service skills. Volunteer opportunities mornings, afternoons and evenings including weekends.

• Emergency Department Receptionist Volunteer

  Volunteers provide assistance to the Receptionist at the front desk of this newly expanded unit by directing patients to the registration area and escorting them to their assigned bed in the Assessment Unit. These volunteers are an integral part of the front desk team to ensure a smooth flow of patients. They also provide wheelchair assistance and comfort measures to visitors in the waiting area, act as patient liaison and assist the registration staff with clerical support. Must be comfortable in an Emergency Department environment with excellent communication and customer service skills. Volunteer opportunities mornings, afternoons and evenings including weekends.

• Fall Prevention Safety Volunteer

  Assist the nursing staff in reducing the likelihood of patient falls by visiting all patients who have been designated as a "fall risk" by the presence of an "apple" sign on their door. Volunteers ensure safety equipment is in proper working order and reinforce patient knowledge and awareness of the safety devices that are in place to prevent falls. Must have excellent communication and listening skills, with a high level of comfort in an in-patient environment. Volunteer opportunities mornings, afternoons and evenings including weekends.

• Gift Gallery Volunteer

  Our Auxiliary Gift Gallery is a major fund-raising entity of the MidState Auxiliary. If you enjoy working in a lovely boutique setting and assisting customers find the perfect gift, this is the place for you! Must have excellent communication and customer service skills with retail experience a plus. Volunteer opportunities weekday mornings and afternoons.

• Hospitalist Support Volunteer

  Excellent telephone and communication skills are required for this new volunteer role that supports our Hospitalist Program. Volunteers will search a computer program to identify patient admissions and discharges in the last 24 hours and communicate this information to the patients' PCP. Other office work such as reviewing documents for missing paperwork and filing are some additional activities included this busy role. Volunteer opportunities weekday mornings.

• Infusion Center Volunteer

  Volunteers support the nursing staff in the Infusion Centers on Pavilion D and in the Medical Oncology & Hematology office of MidState by providing non-medical support to infusion patients. Visiting with patients, providing comfort measures such as coffee, snacks or a warm blanket, assisting with discharges and running errands are all part of the role in these busy units. Must have excellent communication and customer service skills, with a friendly and positive attitude, and good comfort level in this outpatient environment. Volunteer opportunities weekday mornings and afternoons.

• Mediquick Ambassadors

  Volunteers meet and greet the public as they enter MediQuick, MidState's Walk-in Services on Pomeroy Avenue in Meriden. These volunteers are an integral part of the front desk team assisting with the coordination of patients registering in a timely manner. They also provide wheelchair assistance and comfort measures to visitors in the waiting area, act as patient liaison and assist the registration staff with clerical support. Must be comfortable in an urgent care environment with excellent communication and customer service skills. Volunteer opportunities mornings, afternoons and early evenings including weekends.

• Pharmacy Volunteer

  A great way to get your walking exercise! Volunteers assist the pharmacy staff and the nursing care units by delivering and stocking supplies in every patient alcove on all inpatient Pavilions A, B, C, D, E and the Emergency Department. Volunteer opportunities weekday mornings and afternoons.

Palliative Care Program:

• Palliative Care - Bereavement Volunteer

  Volunteers are trained to provide continuity for a patient's family after the patient has expired. Some responsibilities include working closely with MidState's Chaplain to assist with our Bereavement Support Group, provide bereavement materials to share with families, maintain detailed documentation of all communications with bereaved families, and refer bereaved families to appropriate community bereavement support. Previous experience or training in bereavement support is preferred. All prospective Palliative Care Volunteers are required to attend a specialized training program for Palliative Care. Volunteer opportunities mornings and afternoons including weekends.

• Palliative Care - Patient Care Volunteer

  This volunteer is stationed in the patient care units and provides comfort and support to patients and their families who are receiving Palliative Care. Excellent communication and listening skills along with the ability to communicate compassionately and effectively with patients families, and staff are required. Previous experience in a healthcare setting is preferred. All prospective Palliative Care Volunteers are required to attend a specialized training program for Palliative Care. Volunteers opportunities mornings, afternoons and evenings including weekends.

• Palliative Care - Office Volunteer

  Do you enjoy doing busy office work? This new position requires good office skills such as typing, filing and excellent oral and telephone communication skills. Computer experience in Microsoft Office software such as Word, Excel, and Access is needed. This volunteer provides the clerical and secretarial activities integral to the Palliative Care program, such as maintaining patient records and files via the database, mailing bereavement correspondence, assistance in producing reports and other responsibilities that support this program. Attendance at a specialized training program for Palliative Care volunteers is optional. Volunteer opportunities mornings and afternoons.

• Pharmacy Volunteers

  A great way to get your walking exercise! Volunteers assist the pharmacy staff and the nursing care units by delivering and stocking supplies in every patient alcove on all inpatient Pavilions A, B, C, D, E and the Emergency Department. Volunteer opportunities mornings and afternoons weekdays.

• SurgiCenter Volunteer

  If you like a hectic, fast-paced and very busy environment, this role is for you. Volunteers assist the nursing staff in this department by providing comfort measures for pre and post procedure patients as well as acting as patient liaison with family members. These volunteers also assist with the clerical needs of the department as well as making up stretchers, and discharging patients via wheelchairs. Volunteer opportunities mornings or afternoons weekdays (no weekends).

• Tremaine Resource Center Volunteer

  Do you enjoy "surfing the Web" and meeting people? MidState's Tremaine Resource Center would be the ideal place for you! The Resource Center Volunteer assists the general public looking to access medical information on any health issue by means of Internet access, databases, CD-ROMs, videos, software programs, books and journals. Volunteers provide assistance to the librarian by checking in/out books, organizing book shelves and many other projects. Must have good computer and clerical skills, attention to detail, and excellent customer service skills. Volunteers opportunities mornings and afternoons.

• Wound Care Center Volunteer

  This is another fast-paced and hectic patient environment located at the MidState Services Building on Pomeroy Avenue for anyone who enjoys multi-taking and patient contact. Volunteers assist the staff in a variety of ways including clerical, stocking cabinets, assisting with patient scheduling, meeting and greeting patients and family members and providing wheelchair transport upon discharge. Must be comfortable in a patient-centered environment with good computer and clerical skills, attention to detail, and excellent customer service skills. Volunteer opportunities weekday mornings and afternoons. (No Weekends)

Specially trained Volunteers provide "Complementary Therapies" such as:

• Soft Touch Volunteers

  Specially trained volunteers provide "soft touch" relaxation rubs to our patients' hands and feet. Relaxation rubs are proven to reduce stress for patients and help them relax while in the hospital environment. Patients love it! Mandatory six-hour training is provided by a Licensed Massage Therapist in the Fall. "Soft Touch" rates extraordinarily high on our patient satisfaction surveys. Volunteer opportunities mornings, afternoons and evenings weekdays and weekends.

• Reiki Volunteers

  Reiki is a Japanese technique for relaxation and stress reduction. Certified (level 1 or higher) Reiki Practitioners provide this gentle relaxation technique which has been known to relieve pain and muscle tension and heighten a sense of well being and energy. Inpatients, new moms and OR patients experience the wonderful benefits of a Reiki session at MidState. Flexible hours weekdays including weekends.

• Pet Therapy

  Do you have a certified Pet Therapy Dog that would enjoy visiting with our patients each week? These pet visits provide comfort and support to patients who otherwise may have no visitors or may feel lonely and isolated in a hospital setting. The dog must be registered through a legitimate therapy dog organization.
• Teen Volunteer Opportunities

MidState Medical Center is proud of its exceptional Teen Volunteer Program. High school students between the ages of 15-18 provide invaluable assistance to many hospital departments.

Volunteering is an excellent way to learn about the exciting world of healthcare and may encourage you to explore healthcare as a future career. MidState boasts a very structured Patient Aide Program with training support by our Nurse Education Specialist. Go to Patient Aide Program to learn more about this exciting opportunity.

Patient Aide Program:

As a Patient Aide, you will have the opportunity to work closely with the nurses and other members of the patients' healthcare team and experience the day-to-day operations of a busy hospital environment. Your acceptance into this program is based upon your sincere interest in a healthcare career, level of maturity, teacher recommendation, and your interview with the manager who will make the final determination. A MANDATORY "Patient-Aide" training program will be held Wednesday June 26, 2013 from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM in the Learning Lab. Training includes wheelchair safety, nutrition, bed-making, patient feeding (Meal Mates Program), patient "rounding", fall prevention safety checks and communication skills. Upon successful completion, you will be assigned to work on a Patient Care unit.

Teen Volunteer Program

Our Summer Teen Volunteer Program for 2013 is now filled.

How to Become a MidState Volunteer

• Complete the volunteer application and background check forms
  (Please print and return to Volunteer Services at MidState Medical Center)
• List two references
• Interview with Volunteer Services Manager
• Attend three-hour mandatory hospital Safety Orientation
• Complete the two-step PPD (TB) test administered by Health Services
• Provide Health Clearance Form completed by your PCP
• Commitment to volunteering four hours one day a week - just a few hours makes a big difference!

Enjoying the Benefits of Volunteering

• Become part of the exciting world of healthcare
• Have an opportunity to give back to your community
• Enjoy a new circle of friends
• Reap the rewards and satisfaction of helping others
• Utilize your skills and talents in many different ways
• And, most importantly, make a difference in someone's life!

But there's more...

• Free parking
• Free meal pass
• Free membership to MidState's onsite Wellness Center

Join Today!

Become a member of our highly respected team of MidState Medical Center Volunteers! Call Volunteer Services at 203 694 8275, or e-mail