Looking for a rewarding experience? Find medical research exciting? Enjoy meeting people?

Serve your community by providing a vital link to health information. El Camino Hospital's Health Library and Resource Center offers five distinct volunteer opportunities for you to assist patients and their families, as well as the community at large.

Volunteer's Role

Volunteers join our team of library professionals and serve a vital role in the delivery of services at the Health Library & Resource Center. They make it possible for us to provide individualized service for patients and their families, offering valuable assistance at a critical time in their lives.

Extensive orientation and training provided by professional librarians and resource staff result in a level of expertise that effectively serves those individuals in need.

Volunteer Opportunities

Opportunities are available for the following volunteer positions:

• Resource Center Assistant
  These assistants greet patrons and serve as the main desk receptionist. They also assist patrons and provide them an orientation to the library collection (books, videos, tapes, journals, reference section) and Center resources. In addition, they schedule appointments and provide administrative support for the Resource Center.

• Eldercare Patient Call Assistant
  Eldercare patient call assistants make weekly calls to discharged patients and educate these patients or their families about the supportive services available at El Camino Hospital. Some computer entry and database knowledge required. Special projects may be assigned as needed.

• Community Outreach - Booth Attendant
  Community outreach volunteers greet the public at health fairs and community functions and educate the public about services available at El Camino Hospital.

Full descriptions and qualifications for these volunteer positions are available upon request.

Volunteer Qualifications

These vary by volunteer position. However, the following are minimum qualifications for all candidates:

• Senior member of the El Camino Hospital Auxiliary (18 years of age and over only)
• Interest in or experience with social services, community programs and/or health and medical information
• One-year commitment to 3-4 hours per week, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
• Strong commitment to community service
• Willingness to attend on-going training sessions
• Good communication skills in English
• Computer skills, including experience using the Internet for research

The Health Library & Resource Center

The Health Library & Resource Center, a Planetree Affiliate, offers a comprehensive range of health information for both health consumers and medical professionals. Open to the public, the Center is dedicated to helping patients, patient families and the community obtain the information they need to make informed decisions about their health.

As a Planetree Affiliate, the Health Library & Resource Center meets the highest standards for maintaining up-to-date research in health and medicine with special access to subscription databases used by medical professionals. In becoming a Planetree affiliate in December 2004, the Health Library & Resource Center has made a commitment to actively support this initiative by helping patients become active participants in their own care. This Center is free and open to the public who may access services in person, or by telephone or e-mail. The Center's research librarians who support physicians and nurses at El Camino Hospital are also available to assist others seeking specific, in depth information.

The Center was established in 1986 and is located at El Camino Hospital at 2500 Grant Road in Mountain View. Additional resources and caregiver consultants are available for people needing information about advance directives, health insurance, special dietary or drug requirements, caregiver resources, Lifeline Home Emergency Response, or patient transportation.

Again, positions are open only to senior members of the El Camino Hospital Auxiliary  (18 years of age and over).

The Health Library & Resource Center is located at:

El Camino Hospital
Main Building, First Floor
2500 Grant Road
Mountain View, CA 94040

For more information about volunteering or to apply, call:
650-988-7948

E-mail:
healthlib@elcaminohospital.org

Hours:
Monday - Friday | 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday | Closed