Volunteer Opportunities
Group Health offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for people like you who are ready and willing to lend a helping hand.
Transportation Assistance
Seniors can face challenges getting to medical appointments. Family members may not be available, and maneuvering the bus system can be difficult. Volunteer drivers can make a big difference in the lives and health of Group Health senior members in King County. Volunteers are especially needed in South King County (Renton, Burien, Seatac, and Kent) and East King County (Kirkland, Bellevue, and Woodinville).
Driving can be a convenient, flexible way to volunteer. Drivers use their own vehicles to transport members when, where, and how often it works for the volunteer. Rides are offered Monday through Friday. Mileage is reimbursed and supplemental liability insurance is provided. No lifting is required.
To learn more, contact Lisa Hirohata, program coordinator for the Group Health Transportation Assistance Program, at 206-326-2815 or hirohata.l@ghc.org.
Resource Line
Resource Line volunteers become experts at using the Resource Line database while responding to callers' questions about their health education needs.
As a volunteer, you will receive extensive training in order to provide referrals for classes, support groups, meetings, and events at Group Health and in the community. We ask that you commit to working one-half day a week.
For more information, e-mail the resource.l@ghc.org or call 206-326-2800.
Medical Centers
As a volunteer at our Bellevue Medical Center or Capitol Hill Campus in Seattle, you would assist in a variety of ways:
- Helping providers communicate with families in the surgical waiting areas
- Working in our nonprofit gift shop
- Giving directions, answering questions, and discharging patients at the escort desk
We train all of our volunteers, who must be age 15 years or older. Internships are available. We ask that you commit to one four-hour shift one day a week; however, shorter shifts are available for students.
Additionally, all of our medical centers frequently need volunteers. To learn more about helping out at a specific location, contact the medical center directly.
For more information about Bellevue and Capitol Hill Campus, call Volunteer Services for Bellevue at 425-502-4415 and for Capitol Hill at 206-326-2225.
Chronic Conditions Workshop Faciliators
Our Living Well With Chronic Conditions workshops are for people with one or more chronic conditions, with the goal of helping them to feel better and more in control of their health. As a volunteer, you will co-facilitate our workshops, which meet for 2 1/2 hours weekly for six weeks. These in-person workshops usually have 10 to 15 participants — both people with chronic conditions as well as caregivers for people with chronic conditions.
Volunteers strengthen their leadership skills and are engaged in an exciting world-wide program. Please contact us if you:
- Can attend our free four-day training course
- Can commit to co-leading at least one six-week workshop per year
- Have experience managing a chronic health condition, either your own or for someone who has been in your care
If you are interested in this program, e-mail the livewell.c@ghc.org or call the Resource Line at 206-326-2800 or toll-free at 1-800-992-2279.
Hospice
Hospice volunteers offer empathetic, nonjudgmental support and services to hospice patients and their caregivers. We carefully screen and train our hospice volunteers, who perform duties that supplement but do not substitute for professional services.
You must be 21 years or older and may provide support in patient's homes or in residential facilities. You may offer any of these services:
- Staying with a patient so the caregiver can rest or take a break
- Reading to patients or assisting with correspondence
- Running errands, grocery shopping, and picking up prescriptions
- Assisting with transportation to medical appointments
- Offering comfort at the bedside of a dying patient
- Providing comfort therapies such as massage, music, pet therapy, and so on
To learn more about becoming a hospice volunteer, please contact the coordinator in your region:
Snohomish and East King counties
Pati Northcraft
425-556-6372
Toll-free: 1-888-954-2509
Pierce, Kitsap, and South King counties
Julia Casey
253-274-4635
Toll-free: 1-888-781-3573
Seattle area
Sherry Kraft
206-326-4508
Toll-free: 1-800-393-0890
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