Adult volunteer FAQs

Possible volunteer opportunities include:

• Assisting patients and guests with escorting, transporting and wayfinding
• Reception, host greeter
• Supporting operational duties and tasks in clinical and non-clinical areas
• Performing clerical and data entry tasks
• Visiting and comforting patients
• Delivering materials, mail and messages to patients and staff
• Pet therapy volunteers
• Assisting with special projects and events

However, opportunities vary by hospital campus. Contact Volunteer Services at 570-271-6230 to learn more about volunteer opportunities at Geisinger.

Most volunteers participate on a regular schedule once a week, a few times a week or monthly for a shift of three or more hours. Your individual schedule will depend on the nature of your volunteer work and your availability.

The volunteer onboarding process – which consists of the application, references, interview, clearances, orientation and specific department training – can take anywhere from four to six weeks. Onboarding must be complete prior to the start of your service.

Unfortunately, Geisinger does not participant in court ordered community service programs.

Obtaining the needed clearances for volunteering is done online and requires a personal email address. Also, the Volunteer Services staff communicates with volunteers primarily by email. We can help you set up an account, if needed.

Volunteer applicants can arrange to complete the required online clearance process and training at the Volunteer Services office. Contact Volunteer Services at 570-271-6230 if you'd like to schedule a visit to complete your application.

We will work with you to find an assignment that is both meaningful for you and impactful for our staff and patients. At times, there is a waiting list for some roles and your first choice may not be available, but we will do our best to find a good fit for you.

All Geisinger volunteers are required to wear a volunteer uniform and a Geisinger name badge while serving so that they are easily identifiable.

The volunteer uniform is a red shirt, vest or jacket that is supplied to all volunteers upon the start of their service. The supplied uniform top is to be worn with navy, tan or grey pants (provided by the volunteer), a shirt with short or long sleeves and closed toed shoes.

Yes! We work with our volunteers to accommodate their schedules. Please know that a new health screening is required to begin service again if a volunteer takes a leave for six or more months.

Volunteer Services does not arrange any shadowing with hospital departments. Individuals interested in a shadowing or observation experience must contact the individual hospital department directly to arrange the experience.

Volunteer Services does not arrange internships, externships or cooperative learning experiences with hospital departments. Individuals interested in participating in a learning experience for school credit must contact the Human Resources department directly to arrange the experience.

Yes. All volunteers must have current clearances. Geisinger requires you to complete background checks through us unless your clearances have been performed within the acceptable time frame and you can provide us with the original document.

Yes. You may volunteer at different Geisinger locations as long as you work with the Volunteer Services staff to make sure all service is documented and the needed arrangements have been made with each program.