Volunteer at Iowa Lutheran Hospital - Des Moines
Volunteer Opportunities at Iowa Lutheran Hospital
Volunteers at Iowa Lutheran Hospital make a difference for our patients, families and team members. Volunteers are needed in areas that range from patient and family contact, such as staffing waiting rooms, escorting or instruction; to clerical such as typing and filing; to customer service in gift shops and retail stores; to working at home on projects, such as sewing.
Volunteer assignments can be arranged on a schedule that suits you. All volunteers must go through a screening process prior to joining the team.
Volunteer Requirements
- Must be 18 or older and not enrolled in undergraduate or graduate school
- Placement interview and orientation
- Volunteer handbook review
- State of Iowa background check
- National background check (if applicable)
- Health screening
- Annual flu vaccination
- Tuberculosis (TB) test
- Currently enrolled in college
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Placement interview and orientation
- Volunteer handbook review
- State of Iowa background check
- National background check (if applicable)
- Health screening
- Annual flu vaccination
- Tuberculosis (TB) test
- Currently enrolled in high school
- Be 14-18 years of age or older
- Placement interview and orientation
- Volunteer handbook review
- State of Iowa background check
- National background check (if applicable)
- Health screening
- Annual flu vaccination
- Tuberculosis (TB) test
- Commit to volunteering a minimum of once per month. A typical volunteer assignment is once a week for 2-4 hours and can be arranged on a schedule that suits you. We ask our volunteers to make a six-month commitment.
- All dogs must maintain certification and registration in Therapy Dogs International, Inc.
- Each dog must pass the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen Test (CGC) and have a temperament test for suitability to become a Therapy Dog.
- Multiple dog TDI certification is required for volunteers who wish to bring more than one dog on visits.
Adult Volunteer
We have opportunities in patient care areas and non-patient areas such as the gift shop, family waiting rooms, clerical support, and more. A typical volunteer assignment is once a week for 2-4 hours and can be arranged on a schedule that suits you. We ask our volunteers to make a six-month commitment.
Do you enjoy talking with people? Would you like to get exercise by walking while you give of your time? Are you good at putting people at ease? We are looking for compassionate individuals to be stationed in the main entrance area of the hospital to escort patients to various testing areas.
Would you enjoy interacting with the public in a fun retail environment? Do you have great customer-service skills? We are looking for individuals to help in our Gift Shop to assist customers, ring up sales and help keep the shop organized. Various shifts are available as well as substitute spots.
If you would enjoy working with the public and helping to provide a valuable service to the community, then volunteering at the Not New Shop thrift store is for you! We are looking for customer service-oriented individuals to assist customers with purchases, sort and price donations and keep the shop the shop in order.
College Student Volunteer
We have opportunities to support patients, families and hospital staff in a variety of areas, including our patient comfort cart program, pediatric and adult emergency departments, hospital elder life program (HELP) and more. A typical volunteer assignment is once a week for 2-4 hours. We ask our volunteers to make a two semester commitment.
Volunteen
You can make a difference in the lives of patients, while gaining exposure to the health care field. Teens who choose to volunteer:
- Build connections in the community
- Develop skills that help with career advancement
- Improve self-esteem
- Have a more positive outlook on life
- Earn silver cord hours for graduation
- Earn scholarship opportunities
- Make new friends!
Opportunities
Your assignments as a volunteer will vary depending on your interests, availability, skills and experience. Assignments may include:
- Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) scheduler and counselor
- Special projects that support our hospitals and communities
- Emergency Department
- Behavioral health tutor
- Gift Shop
- Not New Shop
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)
Animal assisted therapy is available for patients and families during their stay. We understand the unique bond between humans and animals and how it can enhance a positive attitude and assist in the healing process.
Upon evaluation by the animal assisted therapy program volunteer trainers, the animal must demonstrate behavior that it: is reliable; is controllable; is predictable; inspires confidence in the person s/he is interacting with; and the animal actively solicits interactions with people and is accepting and forgiving of differences in people's reactions and behavior.
Handlers must demonstrate they are reliable, confident, and natural in their interactions with people and animals; have control of their animal; inspire confidence in the person they are interacting with; and actively engage in interactions with people and accept and forgive differences in people's reactions and behavior.
Contact UnityPoint Health – Des Moines Volunteer Services
| Hospital Campus | Phone Number |
|---|---|
| Blank Children's Hospital, Iowa Methodist Medical Center and John Stoddard Cancer Center Volunteer Services | (515) 241-6414 |
| Iowa Lutheran Hospital Volunteer Services | (515) 263-5227 |
| Methodist West Hospital Volunteer Services | (515) 343-1645 |
| Name | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Janessa Weightman | Executive Director, Volunteer Services | Janessa.Weightman@unitypoint.org |
| Mindy Brightman | Office Manager, Volunteer Services | Melinda.Brightman@unitypoint.org |
| Anne McLaughlin-Smith | Volunteer Coordinator, Iowa Lutheran Hospital | Anne.McLaughlin-Smith@unitypoint.org |
| Maria Gifford, CNP | Volunteer Coordinator, Blank Children’s Hospital and Iowa Methodist Medical Center | Maria.Gifford@unitypoint.org |
| Andria Nelson | Volunteer Coordinator, John Stoddard Cancer Center and Iowa Methodist Medical Center | Andria.Nelson@unitypoint.org |
| Sheri Vining | Volunteer Coordinator, Methodist West Hospital | Sheri.Vining@unitypoint.org |