Volunteers

At HCA Florida Mercy Hospital, we rely heavily on the generous support of our extraordinary volunteers. Volunteering is a rewarding and uplifting experience that affords you the opportunity to truly make a difference in your community.

As a volunteer, you will have numerous opportunities to touch the lives and hearts of thousands. Our volunteers serve our patients, family and staff with great kindness and compassion.

There are several different types of volunteer opportunities available throughout the hospital, including:

• Assisting the staff with a wide variety of non-clinical tasks in patient care areas
• Administrative duties, including answering telephones, data entry and filing
• Welcoming and directing or escorting visitors and vendors around campus

To match each volunteer to the most appropriate area, we take into account each volunteer's skills and talents along with the needs of our patients and staff at the time of their enrollment. We try our best to place each volunteer in their area of interest. However, these requests cannot be guaranteed.

Please note the following volunteer requirements:

• Applicants must be at least 16 years old when applying. Signed parental permission is required.
• All volunteers must commit to a minimum requirement of 100 hours of service per year and a minimum of three hours per week. However, there is no limit to the number of hours a volunteer can serve.
• A confirmation letter containing the total number of completed hours will only be awarded after the volunteer's 100-hour commitment has been met. Please allow six working days to process requests for verification of service hours.

A volunteer application packet must be completed and returned to:

HCA Florida Mercy Hospital

Volunteer Services
3663 S. Miami Ave.
Miami, FL 33133
Phone: (305) 285-2773
Fax: (305) 860-4723

Volunteer Services is open Monday through Friday from 9:30am to 6:00pm. For more information on volunteering at HCA Florida Mercy Hospital and to request the application packet, please call (305) 285-2773.

To become a volunteer, a candidate must go through the following steps:

1. Submit the following:
   
   
   • A completed application
   • A copy of one's photo identification
   • A volunteer agreement
   • Background check (needed for adult volunteers and completed by the hospital)
   • Two reference forms
   • Vaccination records (needed for minor volunteers)
   • Volunteer health clearance (completed by your physician)
2. Make an appointment for an interview:
   
   
   • Call (305) 285-2773 to make an appointment for an interview.
   • The purpose of the interview is to gather information regarding the volunteer's availability, interests and skills to ensure proper placement within the hospital's departments.
3. Complete the health verification process, which can include:
   
   
   • A purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculosis skin test
   • A flu vaccination (during flu season November 1st through March 31st)
4. Attend a scheduled Code of Conduct/orientation
   
   
   • Once the application process is completed, the volunteer will be scheduled for orientation.
   • Orientation dates are assigned monthly.
   • Orientation can take between two to three hours. It includes:
     • Code of Conduct training (1 hour)
     • Volunteer Department orientation/activation (30 minutes)
     • Uniform handouts
     • Volunteer Handbook handouts
     • ID badge assignment
     • Introduction to assigned Department/Unit (15-30 minutes)

At HCA Florida Mercy Hospital, we take pride in ensuring the highest quality and safety of our patients as well as our volunteers. Both tests above (TB/PPD and flu vaccination) may be completed at our hospital at no cost to you. If you are interested in getting vaccinated at our hospital, call Employee Health to schedule an appointment at (305) 285-2659, Room 1325.

Some of the benefits that volunteers receive include:

• Access to HCA Florida Mercy Hospital's Credit Union (Jetstream Federal Credit Union)
• Free flu shots and tuberculosis screenings
• Free parking
• Hour pins, a confirmation letter and a list of hours completed
• Meal tickets (up to $6.00 to be used in the hospital cafeteria)
• Recognition luncheon(s)
• Uniforms provided free of charge
• Volunteer Referral Program—Refer a prospective volunteer and receive a voucher once that person has applied and begun volunteering (Vouchers include meal vouchers and movie vouchers.) 

Ruth Spoont, Mail Services

Before becoming a volunteer, Ruth Spoont was an employee at HCA Florida Mercy Hospital since the 1970's. She began in the Microfilming Department, where she was responsible for Medical Records, among other things. Of course, the need for microfilming was eliminated when technology brought us computers and the internet. So, she eventually took charge in the mailroom, where she continues to volunteer. We would be lost without her dedication and support in this department, which she practically runs singlehandedly.

"Mercy's Angels" are special volunteers who have dedicated five or more years of service to HCA Florida Mercy Hospital. We thank them for their unwavering support and commitment throughout the years.