Volunteer Services at MUSC Health

At MUSC Health, we value our volunteers. Our volunteers are an important part of our Care Team. Volunteers serve in a variety of roles from providing directions, to companionship for our patients, to support for our clinical team, to assisting hospital staff with administrative tasks. Our dedicated and compassionate volunteers help fulfill our mission of providing the best quality healthcare for the patients and families we serve.

Volunteer Applications

We appreciate your interest in volunteering at MUSC Health. See below for our next application windows.

We are always in need of the below volunteer assignment, please call us directly at 843-876-3102 to apply year-round for:

• Medical Interpreters: We offer a wonderful opportunity for certified medical interpreters to receive ongoing CEU's at no cost to them and even offer to pay their national certification renewal fees.

Learn About Our Programs

College Volunteer Program

A volunteer program designed specifically for undergraduate students.  

Adult Volunteer Program 

Adult volunteer opportunities are offered in three categories as well as specialty placements and Hollings Cancer Center opportunities.

Arts in Healing

Changing what’s possible in health care by providing access to the inherent healing powers of the arts to improve the health and well-being of the community.

Candy Striper Program

Provide positive, energetic students who are possibly interested in health care with an environment and an opportunity to learn, help others, build friendships, and give back.

Career Exploration

The Medical University Hospital Authority (MUHA) recognizes the value of visitors and developing future healthcare workers. Therefore, MUHA will collaborate with a variety of partnerships to enhance the awareness and training of those interested in health careers through career exploration and development. Students and/or individuals governed by the Visitor and Career Exploration Programs policy include those participating in facility tours, job shadowing, observing, mentoring and clinical sponsorship, as deemed appropriate.

Palliative Care Program

Palliative Care helps many people, at any point in their lives, manage the effects of serious illness(es). It is not the same as hospice as it can be delivered alongside treatments intended to cure and/or manage life threatening or life limiting illness(es). Palliative Care Volunteers can provide many benefits to patients and their families who are hospitalized in both the adult and pediatric hospitals. Below are some of the volunteer roles within our Palliative Care Team. While some volunteers choose a single focus for their time, others choose to rotate between various areas of the program.

Legacy Work

Volunteers may assist with crafting style project that help with coping and connection during long hospitalization or at end of life. This assignment ranges from doing legacy work at the bedside to assisting with preparing art materials or helping with program donations.

Supportive visits

Volunteers are provided with lists of patients and families that would appreciate social visits for comfort and support.

Complimentary Therapies

Volunteers with training and licenses/certificates may provide the following modalities to patients to promote comfort – Reiki, Massage, Acupuncture. This program has extra training and supervision by the program specialist.

Compassionate Companions

Volunteers who are called in to sit with patients who are dying alone or to provide respite for the family. The role of Compassionate Companion is similar to that of a friend or caring companion during the end of life. This program requires special training. These volunteers often have other roles with the team but are also on this list to meet this need when it arises.

Bereavement

Volunteers participate in bereavement support provided to families of patients who passed away during their hospitalization. Some volunteers make phone calls to families throughout the year following a loss, this requires special training. Volunteers also assist with yearly Services of Remembrance to honor patients who have passed in the previous year.

Patient and Family Advisory Program (PFAC)

The Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFAC) are a partnership of family representatives and hospital staff members working together to meet the needs of patients and families.

Therapy Animal Program

Certified therapy dogs and their handlers are available to visit patients throughout Charleston.

Women's & Children's Program

There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available to adults and students over the age of 16 at our hospital.

Requirements for Applicants

Applications to volunteer at MUSC Health are accepted in the Spring and the Fall. Please check our main page for specific dates and application link. Must be at least 14 years of age to apply. Every person that applies is not selected to volunteer in the program. We recruit based our needs and place volunteers based on their interests, schedule, and completion of our onboarding checklist. Volunteer placement is contingent on an approved background check, health screening and clearance, and completed orientation. Quality patient care and the commitment to excellence is our goal so we look for people that can help us achieve that outcome. 

Once you have submitted your application, you will be called in for an interview. We ask you to allow one week for processing and scheduling.

If you are selected to our program:

• You must commit to a minimum of one to three hour shift per week on the same day and time to fulfill a minimum of 100 volunteer hours per year.

• You will sign permission for a SLED background check during your interview. 

• You will be scheduled for a health screening at MUSC Employee Health Services. We will request an appointment that fits your schedule, to be determined during the interview process. Applicants will be given a two step TB skin test and are required to present a copy of their immunization records at the time of their health screening. 
  • Hep B, Varicella, MMR, Tdap, and COVID vaccinations are required (at appointment) and Flu shots are required (yearly- October through April) and provided at no cost to MUSC Volunteers. 
• You will go through a virtual Orientation for Volunteers. This orientation will help you learn about the organization, its culture, and its expectations.
  

Requirements for MUSC Students/Employees

Applicants who are students or employees within MUSC must be cleared for patient contact through MUSC Employee Health Services. A volunteer badge will be created, but volunteer access will be added to their student/employee badge if necessary. Volunteer virtual Orientation can be substituted by their Annual Mandatory online trainings.

Requirements for Volunteers

All volunteers are required to review the Hospital Mandatory Review every year. Please review the Annual Review Booklet and complete the post test.

Submit your Annual Review test before your scheduled deadline. Contact us if you do not know your due date.