Information You Need to Know

General Information:

• Your Hospital Stay
• What to Bring
• Guest Services
• Meal Services
• What I Need to Know
• View Our Hospital

Patient Information:

• Rights & Responsibilities
• Confidentiality
• Consent
• Care & Treatment
• Patient Bill of Rights
• Complaints & Concerns
• Patient Responsibilities

Caregiver Information

Visitor Information

Employment & Volunteering

Employee of the Month

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers come to LIFE Center Specialty Hospital for many reasons but most come to help others and contribute to the LIFE Center. Volunteers also come to learn about the medical profession and to be a part of a team dedicated to providing the highest quality health care. It's our hope that volunteers derive great personal satisfaction from their experience and feel valued by the medical center and its patients.

A recent volunteer study conducted by The Urban Institute found that organizations value their volunteers for these important reasons:

• They are instrumental in reducing costs;
• They improve the quality of services provided; and
• They raise awareness of the organization.

LIFE Center Specialty Hospital of Sherman seeks outstanding LIFE Center volunteers to participate in our mission to improve the quality of life for our patients and their families. LIFE Center Specialty Hospital's comprehensive array of services provides a diverse range of hospital volunteer opportunities. All volunteer programs are non-medical. Each volunteer is asked to commit a minimum of three hours of service each week for three to six months, depending on the area.

We have many volunteer assignments. The following is a small sampling of the opportunities available. Please call Volunteer/HR Services for an orientation packet and a complete listing of assignments.

LIFE Ambassadors - Greet, escort and assist patients and visitors.

Patient Information Desk - Provide information in a busy work environment to visitors regarding patient and departmental locations, as well as answer and transfer incoming calls.

Gift Shop - Assist customers with purchases and gift wrapping.

Most positions are available Monday to Friday during the day with some hours also available on weekends and weekday evenings. Hospital volunteers are requested to commit to volunteering the same day, same time each week for at least 3-6 months. Commitment time lengths may vary depending on position. Adults who have daytime jobs but who still want to volunteer can join the hospitals special evening program. Two- hour shifts are available beginning at 4 p.m. or 5 p.m.

We encourage students to volunteer and understand that the time commitments of our volunteer programs do not always mesh well with high school or college semester schedules. We offer a select few programs that may be able to make accommodations, depending on the time of year and volume of applications. Please let us know if you need to work your required volunteer/internship hours around a school schedule and we will do our best to match you in an available position.

Volunteer Services may also represent the LIFE Center Specialty Hospital through public relations, communication with LIFE Center groups, civic organizations and churches.

The following are specific categories of Volunteer Services:

• Individual Volunteers - LIFE Ambassadors
• Junior Volunteers - LIFE Volunteens - Students ages 16 and older
• Health Occupations Students/Service Learning/Internships
• Experience Works and Texas Workforce Commission special training programs

Orientation - Potential volunteers are required to attend an orientation that provides information regarding volunteer positions, infection control and LIFE Center policy and procedures. Call Volunteer/HR Services for upcoming training dates.

Interview - Following orientation, you will be interviewed by Volunteer Services to determine the best placement for you. You will meet with a supervisor of a selected department to determine compatibility and discuss departmental training and work schedule.

Health - Volunteers must provide health clearance information, including verification of a negative tuberculin skin test completed within the last three months. If the TB skin test is positive, you will need a copy of a negative chest X-ray taken within the past year. The LIFE Employee Health Nurse will be able to complete a current TB skin test for all volunteers if needed, at no cost.

Age - Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. Some services require a minimum age of 18. All volunteers under age 18 must provide a signed Parental Consent Form that will be provided during the interview.

Time - Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of 3 hours per week for three months or six months depending on the assignment area. All volunteers are required to sign in and out on volunteer timecards.

Dress - Volunteers must wear the volunteer nametag while on duty and comply with hospital policies.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY LISTING


Reception/Information Desk (day)
Assist patients, staff and the general public by providing information and directions to various areas of the hospital.

Administrative/Human Resources (day)
Assist staff with daily office tasks, which may include phones, filing, errands, reception and data entry.

Patient Unit- LIFE Ambassadors (day, evening, weekend)
Visit an assigned patient unit. Volunteers listen to and converse with patients/visitors making them feel better about their hospital experience. Offer to write letters, refill water/ice, or run errands for patients and staff as required.


Physical/Occupational Therapies (day, few weekend shifts)
Assist physical and occupational therapists by maintaining patient treatment areas, escorting patients, and helping with office tasks. Volunteers will observe therapists treating patients.

Gift Shop (day)
Assist customers with purchases and gift wrapping. Assist with the daily functions of a small nonprofit gift shop. Tasks include stocking shelves, cashier work, inventory, display set up, sales and general customer interaction.

Caregiver Resource Center (day)
Provide comfort and compassion by visiting caregivers/families of patients. Give information about the caregiver resource center (located in the front entrance of hospital) to caregivers of newly admitted patients.

Caregiver Information Specialist (day)
Assist caregivers and or patients to research information in caregiver resource center and to identify available resources to prolong their independence. This position requires knowledge of Internet and ability to research websites for health and human service information.

Popcorn Cart (Every Friday)
Volunteer prepares and distributes free popcorn to guests. Maintains and cleans cart.

How to Apply

Contact Volunteer Services at:
LIFE Center Specialty Hospital of Sherman
1111 Gallagher
Sherman Texas 75090
Phone: (903) 870-7000 or (903) 870-7117
Fax: (903) 870-7118
Email: janis.thompson@LifeCenterHospital.org
Or: elaine.cottrell@LifeCenterHospital.org

To obtain an application, please do one of the following:
Receive an application by fax, mail, or e-mail
Pick up an application in person from the Volunteer/HR Services office.

The application process involves the following steps:

• Volunteer candidates complete a LIFE application form and returns to HR Manager.
• Candidates meeting the basic requirements are interviewed by the HR Manager, located in the LIFE administration office suite.
• If a position is available that matches the volunteerÕs skills, interests and time availability, the candidate is referred to the appropriate department supervisor for an interview and final decision concerning acceptance.
• If accepted into the program, the volunteer must obtain health clearance, criminal background check, and attend orientation and training required for that position.