Volunteering Meet new people. Learn new skills.
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth volunteers supplement clinical and general service areas throughout the hospital, providing the many extra touches that help support BID-Plymouth’s mission “To improve the health and well-being of our patients and community by providing a full continuum of health care services with excellence and compassion.” In addition to being part of the hospital team, volunteers have the opportunity to work with, and learn skills from, the hospital’s professional staff. By giving their time to BID-Plymouth, volunteers are truly reaching out to their community.
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth depends on its volunteer staff as it depends on its medical staff and employees. A volunteer position at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth involves a serious commitment and a high level of responsibility. The volunteers are an integral part of the hospital. They are responsible, cooperative, dependable, and commit time and energy to their roles.
Today’s volunteers range in age from 14-96. They are from varied backgrounds; retirees, students, parents and others.
Getting started
- Volunteers must be at least 14 years of age and in good health.
- A commitment of (1) four hour shift/week over 6 months for adults (80 hours for students) is required.
- Applications must be completed and references provided.
- An interview is required and acceptance for service is determined by individual qualifications and the needs of the hospital.
- Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth also performs criminal background checks on each adult applicant.
- All volunteers must comply with required health screenings.
- Volunteers are given an orientation to the hospital and trained in his/her area of service.
- The hospital supplies uniforms and free meals while on duty.
Each year the hospital honors its volunteers with an Annual Appreciation Event. The true rewards the volunteers receive, however, come from the knowledge they are giving service to others.
Areas of Service
There is a volunteer opportunity that will satisfy most schedules as well as accommodate personal interest. Most volunteers commit to one (1) 3-4 hour shift/week. Shifts are typically 8-Noon, Noon-4PM and 4PM-8PM, Sunday through Saturday. Volunteering may involve direct patient contact or service in one of the support areas.
Volunteers are currently finding rewarding service in the following areas and special programs:
- Bookmobile
- Clerical/Support Services
- Craft Cart
- Cranberry Hospice
- Surgical Services
- Philanthropy
- Dietary Services
- Endoscopy Department
- Emergency Department
- Escorting
- Gift Shop
- Information Desk/ Reception Areas
- Medical Library
- Oncology Department
- Patient Representative
- Pastoral Visitor
- Staff Education
- Summer at BID-Plymouth Program
Junior Volunteer Program
Beth Israel Deaconess - Plymouth offers a junior volunteer program to those age 14yrs-18yrs. Participants must commit to 80 hours over a six month period. Junior volunteers typically volunteer either a three hour shift after school or on the weekend. Duties include transporting discharged patients, delivering lab specimens and medical records, performing errands across the facility etc. Applications are accepted year round.
Summer at BID-Plymouth
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth offers a volunteer program for students specifically designed for summer service. Volunteers must commit to 100 hours of service to be considered for this program. A typical schedule is three shifts per week. Participants in the Summer at BID-Plymouth Program reach out to others, serve the community and learn skills in the healthcare field. Transport discharged patients, deliver medical records, perform errands for the lab, assist the food service department, deliver mail and flowers to patients. These are just some of what you will experience. Shifts are available Monday through Friday from 8AM until 8:00PM. A variety of opportunities await you when you walk through the doors of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth. Your experiences can be a key to a new and exciting future. The application deadline is March 31st.
BID-P College Student Program
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth offers a program for college students majoring in healthcare fields. Students are placed in areas with direct patient contact to provide hands-on experience. Students are expected to volunteer (1) shift/week from the time they are released from school in May until they go back to school in the fall. College students should plan on completing necessary paperwork and testing while they are home on winter or spring break. Applications are due by March 31st.
BID-Plymouth’s Tradition of Voluntarism
In 1901, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth received its charter from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a hospital in the Town of Plymouth. What once was a two-story brick building with 12 beds is now a 150 bed, non-profit acute care community hospital serving 12 towns and employing over 1200 people. Although voluntarism has always been part of the BID-Plymouth tradition, it wasn’t until 1968 that the Volunteer Services Department was established and a director hired. Since then, the program has grown to more than 350 volunteers who donate over 60,000 hours per year.
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