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!  **Masking is optional depending on location of visit.

Be the face of the department as your welcome patients and visitors and assist them to get settled and prepared for their appointment. Volunteers play a key role in decreasing patient's anxiety by providing a warm and welcoming approach focused on setting the stage for a successful visit. Volunteers also help patient's loved ones adjust and provide constant communication to them in areas where procedures or day surgeries may be taking place. Our goal is to provide that caring and emotionally supportive environment for the department. 

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.

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!