Here's a tip for all who visit Cedars-Sinai Medical Center or Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital: Look for light blue.  

That's the color of the jackets that are worn by Cedars-Sinai volunteers. These helpful people are the go-to source for all forms of assistance, from pointing visitors who are lost in the right direction to brightening the day of patients experiencing loneliness to easing a visitor’s anxiety before a loved one’s surgery.  

In fiscal year 2022, volunteers at Cedars-Sinai logged over 108,000 hours of service. Through their service, our volunteers embody the values on which Cedars-Sinai was built, including compassion, excellence, integrity and respect. 

Given the important roles they play, volunteers—from high school students to retirees— are always in demand at Cedars-Sinai. The options for those who want to lend a helping hand—and gain hands-on healthcare career experience—span a meaningful and valuable spectrum.

Also, since Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital operate around the clock 365 days a year, there are volunteer opportunities that meet virtually any volunteer's schedule.

Read: Promises Kept: Volunteer Gives 40 Years of Dedicated Service

At Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, volunteer opportunities include:

• Emergency Department—Volunteers provide information and emotional support to patients and families in the Emergency Department and assist medical staff with nonclinical tasks to ensure our patients’ safety and comfort. Experienced volunteers are trained to provide a secure environment for and pay particular attention to unaccompanied adults age 65 and older who are visiting the Emergency Department.
• Information Desks—In lobbies and surgical waiting areas, volunteers support anxious patients and their loved ones, serving as a link between surgical care teams and patients' family members and friends.
• Mealtime Mates—These volunteers spend time with patients who need assistance eating or who could benefit from friendly company during meals.
• POOCH Program—Through the Barbara Cowen POOCH Volunteer Program, well-behaved, trained dogs and their owners offer comfort and support to patients, visitors and staff members.

"Volunteers are such a foundational force at Cedars-Sinai, a fact that was particularly evident when they were absent during the heights of the pandemic," says Michele Prince, director of Volunteer Services at Cedars-Sinai.

"Now that more volunteers have returned, there's a feeling of wholeness and the added energy that volunteers contribute to our organization."

Read: Faces of Cedars-Sinai: Teen Volunteer Nicholai Matias

Volunteers also are always welcome at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital. Among the current needs are:

• Emergency Department—Volunteers assist nursing staff with clerical duties, keep waiting rooms clean and transport laboratory specimens.
• Front Desk—Volunteers greet and log in patients and visitors, prepare visitor badges, direct patients and visitors to their destinations, and keep the front desk and lobby tidy.
• Transforming Care at the Bedside—This program provides valuable, real-world experience for volunteers who are interested in healthcare careers. They learn what nurses and other healthcare professionals do in their daily work and experience interacting with patients and families at the bedside.

"Volunteers are a tremendous asset throughout the hospital," says Dani Rodriquez, Volunteer Services supervisor at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital.

"We consider volunteers a vital part of our organization, but many volunteers have told me that the fulfillment they experience far outweighs their volunteer efforts."

Read: A Little TLC Goes a Long Way to Help Older Patients