Downtown Hospital

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	How to Volunteer (917) 286-2571 New York Downtown Hospital, a member of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System, is a non-profit institution located in Lower Manhattan. Downtown Hospital is a community teaching hospital primarily serving the people who work and live in Lower Manhattan. With more than 50 departments and work sites, the hospital provides fabulous work-learning opportunities for the people who are in job training, internship, volunteer, and welfare programs. People can gain valuable experiences, and make a quantum difference in their lives and those of others. Volunteer and Internship Opportunities Administrative & Clerical People working in these capacities can gain valuable experience in office management and learn a variety of office skills, such as file management, data entry, reception for both walk-ins and phone inquiries, appointment scheduling, and other general office duties. Departments that need volunteers for these positions are varied and many. They include, but are not limited to: Admitting, Billing, Pharmacy, Lab, and corporate offices. Direct Patient Care In the direct patient care, Volunteers/Interns will be working in the nursing units, emergency room, or other areas where doctors and nurses give out patient care. Volunteers/Interns would help in transporting patients around the hospital, comforting patients, answering page lights, and changing beds, etc. Meanwhile, Volunteers/Interns would have opportunities to observe medical staff's responsibilities and activities in the medical field as well as home care area. All Volunteers/Interns must be self-motivated and have a pleasant personality. Security & Public Information People in these positions would provide hospitality to patients, their families and visitors. Volunteers/Interns would make sure the hospital's operation is under a secured environment. Duties usually involve greeting visitors, giving directions, providing patient information, and ID verifications. Community Outreach One of Downtown Hospital's missions is to reach out to its community, to provide healthcare not only to those who come to the hospital, but also to those who work or live in this community. We offer many health outreach events and health fairs to the Lower Manhattan community through out the year. These outreach events are not on a regular schedule and dates are varied. Volunteers/Interns would help with registration, measuring height and weight, directing traffic, and assisting with operation of medical equipment. Bilingual Volunteers/Interns would also have the opportunity to act as translator for doctors and patients. Laboratory Volunteers/Interns are active in several laboratory settings including Blood bank, Chemistry, Histology, Pathology, and Hematology. Generally, Volunteers/Interns assist in data entry, report relay (through the phone), specimen labeling and logging and slide preparations. Volunteers/Interns will have the opportunity to observe laboratory operations and learn how technicians work. Laboratories are most active in the mornings. Interpreter Because the immigrant population in New York City, and the patient population in our hospital, there is a constant need for translation / interpretation in many of the departments. The translator would interact with patients, visitors, doctors, and medical staff in the hospital. Volunteers can practice their language skills and accumulate a wealth of medical terminology. Medical Assistant The departments of Outpatient Billing, Accounting, Medical Records, and Credit office offer opportunities for those who are going to pursue their career as a medical assistant. Volunteers gain experience and knowledge required for becoming a medical assistant. Duties include general office work, data entry, and coding. Family Liaison, Ambulatory Surgery Volunteers/Interns would track the progress of patients undergoing operations and ease the stress and concern of their families by relaying information between busy staff and family members (waiting in the visitor's lounge). Volunteers/Interns would also serve snacks, water, and other necessities. Expectation and Procedure Commitment Volunteers/Interns are asked to commit a minimum of 100 hours of service. On average, you should put in 4 hours of service per week for at least 6 months. It is important to see if this commitment will fit into your schedule and other life commitments so that you will be able to volunteer successfully week after week. We are looking for service-oriented people who are committed to the missions of Downtown Hospital. The followingqualities are important: 1) capability to work well with others; and 2) desire to learn and grow through participation in educational programs for volunteers/interns. The Application Process The process of becoming a volunteer/intern at Downtown Hospital involves the following steps: 1. Fill out an application and call (917) 286-2571 to set up an interview. (Interview is for advisory purpose and some departments may require another interview) 2. Attend a mandatory Orientation to learn about hospital policies and regulations. (Three (3) hour sessions, special accommodations can be made if so required.) 3. Submit a copy of your immunization records and two ID pictures. 4. Final confirmation of placement and schedule. Please direct all inquiries to: Volunteer Department New York Downtown Hospital 59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor New York, NY 10038 Phone: (917) 286-2571 Email: william.wang@downtownhospital.org The Elizabeth Blackwell Society Make a Donation How to Give Blood How to Become an Organ Donor