Volunteer & Guest Services Department Overview
The Volunteer & Guest Services Department provides volunteers throughout various areas of Parkland Hospital and Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) clinics. Also, great numbers of community volunteers, both locally and internationally, donate food, clothing and thousands of greatly needed handmade items to Parkland’s needy patients.
How do I become a volunteer?
Prospective volunteers attend a monthly group orientation where they
receive training and complete an application. At that time, the names
and fax numbers of a medical and business-type reference will be
requested. Later, a personal interview will be scheduled; a criminal
background check will be processed; and the prospective volunteer will
make an appointment with Occupational Health Services to have all
immunizations checked. All volunteers will receive department-specific
training in the area in which they choose to volunteer. Some areas also
require CPR certification. Upon completion of these requisite items, you
will be ready to take your place on the hospital volunteer team.
For more information,
call 214.590.8827.
Where can I volunteer?
Pastoral Care (Chaplains)
Community Clinics (COPC)
Reach Out & Read Program
Emergency Services
Gift Shop
Intensive Care Units
Newborn Nursery
Neonatal ICU Nursery
Physical and Occupational Therapy
Pharmacy
Day Surgery
Regional Burn Unit
Geriatrics
Victim Intervention Program (VIP)
Outpatient Medicine Specialty Clinics
Women & Infant Services (WISH)
Labor & Delivery
In-Patient Units
Summer Program
Summer Volunteers must be at least 14 years of age. Students high school
age and younger may volunteer weekdays, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.
until 4 p.m. only. College-age and older may volunteer 24 hours a day
seven days a week, depending on their placement. To participate in
the summer program, call 214.590.8827 before March 15.
Junior League of Dallas
Parkland and the Junior League of Dallas have partnered for over 65 years to provide excellent volunteer service to Parkland's patients and the Dallas community. Junior League Volunteers are the backbone of Parkland's volunteer force, especially in the areas of Emergency Services and Nurseries.
Handwork
Many volunteers assist the patients by volunteering outside the hospital setting. These volunteers donate their time by making greatly needed handmade items for the patients. Handmade knitted slippers, pressure pillows, quilts, lap robes, infant layette items, stuffed animals, activity or coloring books, dolls, etc. are always needed.
Animal Assisted Therapy
Meet Ace, Parkland's newest animal therapy dog. The three-year-old Teacup Poodle weighs just 3 pounds. But he has a much bigger impact on Parkland patients than his tiny size would indicate.
Ace began "treating" patients last year. He brings some much needed cheer to patients who are ill, also helping to distract from pain, stress and fear. In addition, petting and brushing helps as a form of physical therapy for some patients as well.
Ace had excellent teachers. He came with his "mom" Susie Moore and Zip, Parkland's beloved and long-time animal therapy dog who sadly passed away earlier this year. Susie Moore first came to Parkland in March 2000, as part of the Parkland/SPCA of Texas Animal Assisted Therapy Program.
