More than 500 volunteers provide vital support to Mary Greeley Medical Center, across a wide variety of adult volunteer support areas.
Ambulatory Care Services Information Desk
Duties include greeting guests, checking-in patients, answering the phone, communicating with staff, patients and visitors, light clerical work, straightening up the waiting area and assisting patients and visitors as needed.
Skills
Customer service and telephone etiquette.
Hours
1 to 3 p.m., Monday – Friday
Art Program
Mary Greeley Medical Center boasts a wonderful collection of artwork from a variety of artists. Volunteering with our art program can include assisting with cleaning and maintenance of pieces, cataloging our inventory, and other small projects.
Skills
Interest in art, some physical activity including bending and reaching is involved with cleaning projects.
Hours
Flexible depending on the project, typically 2-3 hours per week.
Caring Hands
The Caring Hands Program uses trained Volunteers to provide non-therapeutic hand massage to patients and/or family members at the William R. Bliss Cancer Center. The Volunteer will provide an opportunity for patients/family members to receive a voluntary, complimentary, hand massage using gloved hands, with gentle massage. Volunteers will introduce themselves and the service to the patient/family member. Stress that this is a complimentary service offered by the volunteer services and Cancer Resource Center. The volunteer will be prepared to take their supplies to the patient waiting room area (pillow, pillow case(s), towels and oil.
Skills
Customer service, trained in gentle hand massage, comfortable with hand massage and physical touch, Comfortable with silence and patient/family non-verbal clues. Desire to work with patients and families.
Hours
Flexible, 2 hour shifts available Monday through Friday, 9 - 11 a.m. OR 1- 3 p.m.
Clerical Support
Volunteer assistance with clerical projects is a great asset to Mary Greeley Medical Center. Duties can vary from answering phones, filing, copying, database entry, and more. Each position is designed to best fit the department’s needs with the volunteer’s skills. Volunteers assist in many departments throughout the medical center from Chaplaincy, Human Resources, External Relations, and much more. At the time of your interview, we will review the openings.
Skills
Computer skills (basic typing, Microsoft Office, database experience, internet) preferred, telephone etiquette, customer service, previous clerical experience is a plus.
Hours
Flexible, typical shifts are 2-4 hours between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday- Friday.
Emergency Department
Emergency Department Volunteers assist with a variety of tasks depending on the traffic flow on any given day or hour. They may help to greet guests, stock supplies, sit with patients, run errands throughout the medical center, and more. These positions are great for pre-health students as well as anyone willing to be flexible and enjoys working with people.
Skills
Telephone etiquette, customer service, flexibility.
Hours
9 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday- Saturday (over night hours available as well).
Front Information/Main Lobby Desk
The first person most people see at Mary Greeley Medical Center is the front information desk volunteer. This position requires volunteers to multi-task while maintaining very good customer service. Volunteers pass on patients to the registration process, direct visitors to patient rooms, and answer a multitude of questions. Main contact is with patients and visitors. This desk is typically the busiest of all, with heavier traffic on the weekdays before 4PM. Weeknight and weekend volunteers may have sporadic traffic and at times are able to do light reading or studying.
***The weekday shifts for this position are generally reserved for volunteers that are already familiar with MGMC as a retired employee or a volunteer in another area due to the high volumes and variances in questions. ***
Skills
Computer skills (Microsoft Outlook and database) are preferred, telephone etiquette, customer service.
Hours
8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Monday - Friday and 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.
Gift Shop
The Gift Shop of Mary Greeley Medical Center is a time honored tradition for shoppers and volunteers alike. Volunteers assist guests by cashiering and wrapping up gifts.
Skills
Customer service, basic computer skills helpful, telephone etiquette.
Hours
8:30 a.m.-11 a.m., 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday Friday.
Hospice
Volunteering with hospice can include a variety of opportunities. Once volunteers complete the required training (14 hours), they may choose which area(s) to support: visiting patients in the home setting, clerical support, helping at the Israel Family Hospice House by greeting guests and answering phones, assisting with the bereavement program, helping with holiday meals and more.
Skills
Desire to work with hospice patients, compassion, flexibility.
Hours
Varied for patient support opportunities. Israel Family Hospice House shifts are 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 1-5 p.m., 5-9 p.m., Sunday - Saturday.
Intensive & Coronary Care Unit (ICCU) Desk
Duties include greeting guests; directing visitors and families to other areas; and serving as a check point for patient visits. Main contact is with family members and staff. Volumes vary with this assignment so it is great for those volunteers willing to help with clerical work or volunteers may read. Volunteer students often are able to study when volumes are not high.
Skills
Telephone etiquette, customer service.
Hours
9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 12:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., Monday Friday. Evening and weekend hours may be added to accommodate volunteer schedules.
Mail Delivery
Volunteers deliver patient mail 5 days a week to each unit. Volumes will vary each day. This assignment is a great way to serve and brighten patients’ day.
Skills
Customer service.
Hours
Mornings (typically 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.) Monday - Friday.
Meals on Wheels
Volunteers for Meals on Wheels help by delivering meals to Ames residents over the lunch hour. Typical routes include 5-10 stops that are arranged as much as possible by geographic location. First volunteers stop at MGMC to pick up the meals in carriers and the route information, deliver the meals, and then return carriers to Heartland Senior Services.
Skills
Customer service, volunteers provide their own transportation.
Hours
Typically shifts last 1-1.5 hours, Monday – Friday. Meals are picked up at Mary Greeley at 10:45 a.m. There are not shifts on weekends or holidays.
Medical Unit Support
Most popular with pre-health (pre-medicine, pre-nursing, etc.) students, this volunteer position provides a great service for patients and staff. Volunteers assist the units by stocking supplies, light clerical work, or running errands throughout MGMC. Once these responsibilities are completed, volunteers may sit with patients who would benefit from socialization.
Skills
Customer service, desire to work with patients, flexibility.
Hours
Open shifts are a minimum of 2-3 hours, Monday – Friday.
North Addition Information Desk
Duties include greeting guests; handing out maps, providing directions and some light clerical work. Main contact is with patients coming to the Radiation Oncology Department, some family members, and staff. Visitors and inquiry volumes can vary on any given day. This assignment is great for those volunteers wanting to help who can also keep themselves busy with clerical work or reading at times. Volunteers at this desk work in tandem with a staff transporter.
Skills
Computer skills (Microsoft Outlook and internet) preferred, telephone etiquette, customer service.
Hours
8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday Friday.
Patient Safety Volunteer
This program utilizes trained volunteers for the enhancement of a safe environment for high risk fall patients through the inspection of the patient’s environment, monitoring of staff compliance with fall prevention protocol, and reminding the patient of their role in fall prevention. The role of the volunteer is to visit patients who have been designated at risk for fall and document on a spreadsheet compliance with fall protocol.
Skills
Customer service, desire to work with patients and families.
Hours
Two to three hour shifts available 1:00 – 7:00 p.m., 7 days a week.
Pet Therapy
The Pet Therapy program is a way to have patients interact with dogs while they are patients on a variety of units. Volunteers in this program include the owner and their dog.
Skills
Customer service, desire to work with patients, participating dogs must be TDI (Therapy Dogs International) certified.
Hours
Varied, typical shifts last 1-2 hours.
Second Grade Tours
Volunteers have helped highlight Mary Greeley Medical Center services for many years to area second grade classes. The tour includes visits to the Emergency and Mobile Intensive Care Services, Intensive and Coronary Care Unit, Radiology, Pediatrics, and Dietary Departments. Each department has staff that presents to the children. Teacher and parent escorts accompany the students. Volunteer tour guides help to facilitate and guide the group throughout MGMC.
Skills
Customer service, interest in children, willingness to lead small groups.
Hours
Thursday afternoons by appointment with participating schools.
Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) Counselor
SHIIP counselors take responsibility for providing individualized Medicare counseling through the Story County SHIIP program. Counseling sessions are offered at MGMC or other Story County locations. SHIIP counselors are required to attend quarterly update meetings (three required – two must be on location, one can be a video review) through SHIIP and attend SHIIP sponsored meetings, as requested and must be knowledgeable in the following areas: Medicare reimbursements, Medigap insurance and long-term care insurance.
Skills
Customer service, computer skills (internet), willingness to attend regular update sessions
Hours
9 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday, 3 hour shifts available
Sterile Processing Department (SPD) Support
This volunteer position will assist the Sterile Processing Staff with duties which will include folding towels and other linens for the SPD staff to wrap and sterilize. Answer the phone as requested. Remove filters from sterilization pans to assist with work flow in SPD.
Skills
Telephone etiquette, willingness to help however needed
Hours
2 to 3 hour shifts available 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday
Surgery Family Waiting Room Desk
Duties include greeting guests, assisting families with needs, tracking families and guests for eventual physician consultations, and answering phones. Main contact is with family members, physicians, and staff.
Skills
Customer service, telephone etiquette.
Hours
8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. & 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., Monday Friday.
Surgical Unit Family Escort
Duties include escorting families and friends of surgical patients to the patient’s room. Along the way, volunteers will orient them to the medical center and give a brief introduction to the patient room.
Skills
Customer service, desire to work with patient’s family and friends, ability to walk for extended periods.
Hours
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 12 to 3 p.m., Monday – Friday.
West Information Desk
This volunteer is the first person to greet many patients and visitors to the medical center. It requires very good customer service. Volunteers direct visitors to patient rooms and other areas of the medical center, and answer a multitude of questions. Main contact is between patients and visitors.
Skills
Computer skills (Microsoft Outlook), telephone etiquette, customer service.
Hours
10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. & 1:30 – 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday
