Volunteer at Denver Health

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response: Donation and Volunteer Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Denver Health Volunteer. Due to COVID-19, we are not onboarding any volunteers until September. Please return to this page for any updates.

At this time, Denver Health's greatest need is for monetary donations. Those who want to help are encouraged to contribute to the Fight COVID-19 Urgent Response Fund at DenverHealthFoundation.org/ways-to-give/donate-now.

In lieu of food donations, we are respectfully requesting donations to the Fight COVID-19 Urgent Response Fund to help us with our greatest needs.

For donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies including medical masks, gowns and gloves, please send an email to Linda.Ford@dhha.org. Denver Health is currently not accepting any homemade masks.

For donations of signs, letters and/or cards supporting our health care workers to be added to our "Wall of Gratitude” outside of the hospital's Volunteer and Patient Services Zone (located on the first floor of Pavilion C), please contact Amy.Friedman@dhha.org.

Vendors who are interested in selling or leasing supplies may send an email to COVID_vendors@dhha.org.

For more information on news and updates related to coronavirus, visit DenverHealth.org/Coronavirus.

Volunteer Requirements

The Denver Health volunteer program began in 1935 to help Denver Health to fulfill its threefold goal of patient care, education and research. The role of the volunteer is to supplement the professional staff, thereby freeing time to provide the best medical, nursing and support services to patients. Volunteers add the extra dimensions of empathy, sensitivity, warmth and friendliness to ease and brighten a patient’s hospital stay or clinic visit. Denver Health has about 200-350 active volunteers throughout the year.

All volunteer applicants must:

be 16 years of age or older
commit to volunteering 4 hours consistently every week (Pet Therapy/Doula have different shifts, please inquire for details)
commit to 100 hours over a 12 month period
attend an interview, orientation and additional trainings as needed
complete a multi-step medical clearance including a two-step TB test, flu shot and providing a copy of your immunization records
be able to successfully pass a background screening

Please scroll down and refer to our volunteer services FAQs below for more information.

Volunteer Opportunities

All new volunteers, with the exception of Pet Therapy and Doulas, must start as Pathfinders for their first 32 hours unless recruited to volunteer with a specific department. Denver Health is a big campus and it is easy to get lost, our Pathfinders help patients and visitors to find their way to appointments, tests, visits, etc. with comfort and ease through the many buildings and departments. Pathfinders also help with hospital departments on projects as needed.

Donate your time in these areas:

Book Cart: Volunteers visit each patient room in our medical surgery
floors and offer a variety of books, magazines and puzzles. They also help
in acquiring basic needs such as toiletries, reading glasses and phone
chargers.
Medical Surgery Floors: Volunteers help to stock rooms, meet patient
needs, answer call lights and help support staff.
Clerical Volunteers: Volunteers welcome people, organize paperwork, put
together educational materials for new patients and make follow up calls.
MyChart Sign-Up: Help our patients in the outpatient clinics sign up for
MyChart, a secure online service that allows our patients simple health
care management from any smartphone or computer, including prescription
refills, make an appointment, and online bill pay.
Pediatric Volunteers: Help our Child Life specialists in the DECC,
Pediatric Unit, and Neonatal with our littlest patients! You will be
hosting activities, help with events and care for our pediatric patients.
Spiritual Care: Volunteers help the Spiritual Care Department in
completing specific tasks that assist in addressing the spiritual and
emotional needs of patients and visitors at Denver Health.
Emergency Department: This is a busy, fast paced environment. Volunteers
support patients, run errands and stock rooms in our Level 1 Trauma Center.
Pet Therapy: Volunteers and their certified (through Alliance of Therapy Dogs or Pet Partners) pet therapy dogs spread joy and comfort to patients, visitors and staff with visits throughout the hospital
Additional possibilities:
- Human resources
- Outpatient clinics

Can I complete court-ordered community service hours at the hospital?

No, unfortunately our hospital cannot sign off on court order community service.

How long does the process take?

The process depends on several factors; you background check, multi-step medical clearance and orientation date. It can take two to five weeks after attending orientation.

Does the medical clearance require a drug test or actual physical?

No.

I have something in my background, does that automatically disqualify me to volunteer?

No, we take each situation on a case by case basis reviewed by our legal team.

Do I have to take another TB test even though I have a very recent one?

Yes, as per policy, every employee and volunteer need to receive a TB test from COSH.

I would like to job shadow, what is the process for that program?

Our job shadowing program is run by our human resource department.

Will I automatically get hired for a job after volunteering for a certain amount of hours?

No, getting a job offer is solely based on your relationships you make when you volunteer.

Can I choose the department I want to volunteer with?

We do our best to place our volunteers in the department they wish to be in, it is based on department needs, and schedules.

Does Denver Health have a Cuddle Program?

Denver Health has volunteers who assist on the Mom/Baby floor and in the NICU. While these individuals do have the opportunity to hold our littlest patients, they also assist with a number of other tasks such as making signs for the babies rooms, creating welcome kits, folding blankets, etc. In these roles, we look for volunteers who are willing to jump in and help with all tasks.These roles are competitive and not always available.

Does Denver Health accept Clinical Volunteers?

Yes, however, they do not go through Volunteer Services. If you are interested in becoming a Clinical Volunteer, please contact the Medical Staffing Office at 303-602-2715.

Apply To Become a Volunteer

Volunteer Application Steps:

Submit an online Volunteer Application application through our secure website.
Volunteer Services will contact you if your application is approved. It may take 3-4 weeks before you hear due to the high volume of applications we receive.

Questions?

Contact:
Debbie Salazar, Volunteer Services Assistant, (303) 602-2926 or Liz Matthews, Volunteer Coordinator, (303) 602-2929

Donations Needed

Are you interested in helping but not able to make the commitment required to become a consistent hospital volunteer? Donations are a great way to help! Donations are accepted in the volunteer office, located in the Volunteer and Patient Services Zone on the first floor of Pavilion C, Monday-Friday, 8 am - 4 pm. Outside of these hours, donations can be made at the main information desk in Pavilion A, the hospital’s main entrance.

Newborns In Need

Denver Health Foundation's Newborns in Need program comes to the rescue for expecting families who are struggling to make ends meet. Thanks to generous donors and volunteers, we collect thousands of new baby items to fill our “Warm Welcome” bags that are given to new moms and dads who really need and appreciate this extra help.

In addition to the Warm Welcome Bags, Newborns in Need also provides car seats, strollers, cribs and many more items to families that are in serious need. Learn more about volunteering and donating to Newborns In Need. For information please email Sharon Mushkin at sharon.mushkin@dhha.org or call (303) 602-2985.

Reach Out and Read

With our Reach Out and Read program, gently used books are placed in waiting areas at clinics to create literacy-rich environments, given to siblings during Well Child Visits, and offered to patients during sick visits. It is our goal that every time a child enters our clinics that they leave with a book in their hands. Help us make this goal a reality.

We are happy to accept new and gently used children’s books abiding by the following guidelines:

Be new or gently used (covers and pages intact, clean and unmarked pages)
Books may be for the following age groups: infants up to and including young adults
No textbooks
No used coloring or activity books

Donations can be dropped off in Volunteer Services, The Zone Pavilion C, 1st Floor weekdays from 8 am - 4 pm.

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