Advocate Health

Ambassadors and wayfinders welcome and escort patients and visitors throughout the hospital making them feel welcome and safe. You are helping to set the stage for a successful visit with us and you may be the last impression as they leave. This is a powerful role to help ensure our patients and visitors do not worry about where or how they get to their destination within our facilities. You help reduce that anxiety so they can focus on their healing journey.

Our four-legged friends and their volunteer handlers bring joy and reduce anxiety for patients, visitors and teammates through our animal assisted therapy program. Dogs and at some sites, miniature horses, must be certified for animal assisted (pet) therapy and visit throughout our hospitals. They are beloved by all!

Virtual volunteers can work remote from home while still providing meaningful support for our patients through a variety of programs. The Concierge Admission Program supports newly admitted patients with a phone call from a virtual volunteer to discuss their stay, identify any needs they may have while with us and assist with concerns. Volunteers call patients from home to any one of our hospitals. Virtual volunteers can also serve as remote witnesses for patients who need an advance directive for care and assist with hospitalized patients during elections to provide guidance on how they can vote using a proxy. Many more virtual experiences are being developed thanks to our wonderful virtual volunteers!

Our volunteer musicians visit patients and gathering spaces within our hospitals to play music that provides a soothing escape from pain and isolation. Musicians typically play instruments such as piano (many hospitals have one in their main entrance area), flute, harp, or any stringed instrument. Their talent is a gift to all -- our patients, teammates and visitors!

Volunteers support our cancer patients in many ways throughout their cancer journey. Some serve in our chemotherapy infusion areas to offer snacks, warm blankets, and anything else a patient may need while they undergo their hours-long treatments. Some serve to assist the staff with stocking supplies and checking on our waiting patients and visitors. The caring hearts of our volunteers touch the lives of hundreds of cancer patient every week. 

Volunteers in this role provide fun, creative outlets and positive distractions for patients to help them fight boredom, stay positive and find joy during their hospital stay. Volunteers offer books, games, puzzles and more by bringing activity carts to the inpatient units. Volunteers may also help run organized group activities such as bingo, trivia or craft projects for our patients in rehabilitation, as part of our cancer centers or for our patients in behavioral health. It is an energizing and fun role to interact in a meaningful way with patients!

We have a variety of volunteer roles focused on supporting the inpatients and our nursing teams. Our goal is to ensure every inpatient has the support they need during their stay and an excellent patient experience. Volunteers visit assigned patients regularly and use active listening skills to check in on their needs and provide emotional support. We also have volunteers who visit with activity carts and fresh baked cookies (at some locations) to lift their spirits.

Our wonderful spiritual care volunteers' partner with our spiritual care team to provide that much needed support for patients. Eucharistic ministers help deliver communion to patients and other volunteers help meet with patients to identify what type of spiritual care is needed so our chaplain team can get those resources for the patient.