Clinical Patient Support
Examples – Endocrinology, Fracture, Endoscopy, Medical Imaging, Head and Neck Clinic, GI, GU, Transplant, Bariatric, Cardia, Spinal Cord, MSK, Neurology
- Greet and welcome patients and visitors
- Assist with various administrative tasks including photocopying, filing, phone calls
- Assist patients with general inquiries and information needs
- Prepare Exam Room and escort patients to Exam Room
Inpatient Support
Examples – Patient Visiting, Unit Support, Therapeutic Recreation, Wellness, Dotsa Bitove Wellness Academy, Palliative Care
- Provide activities for patients – examples include providing reading material, playing cards, board games, puzzles, talking, reading to patients, writing letters, arts and crafts
- Communicate between patients/families and nursing/health professions staff – inform nursing/health professions staff about patients and visitors who wish to talk with medical staff. Keep staff informed of any questions or concerns raised.
- Escort patients for walks
- Provide companionship when requested
Specialized Patient Support
Healing Beyond the Body (HBB) Virtual Program
The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre has a trained team of volunteers who work directly with cancer patients and their supporters as part of the
Healing Beyond the Body program. HBB volunteers offer emotional support and participate in friendly conversations by phone or video chat with patients and caregivers who are under care at PM. HBB volunteers can help answer questions, connect patients with services and assist with practical problem-solving.
Call 416 946 4501 ext. 3311 or email hbb.volunteers@uhn.ca for more information.
Administrative Support
Examples – Human Resources, Volunteer Resources, Clinical Administration, Health Records, Spinal Cord, MSK, Nutrition, Outpatient Clinics, Program Support
- Greeting and welcoming patients, visitors and staff
- Phoning patients to confirm upcoming appointments
- Filing, faxing and photocopying
- Errands to other departments
General Patient and Family Support
Examples – Navigator, Information Desk, Waiting Room Support, Critical Care Units, Emergency Department
- Assist with way-finding, direct and escort patients and other clients (e.g., family members, visitors) to different areas in the hospital
- Provide information pertaining to a patient’s visit to the hospital
- Greet and welcome visitors
- Provide activities for patients – examples include providing reading material, playing cards, board games, puzzles, talking, reading to patients, writing letters, arts and crafts
- Assist family members and visitors with general inquiries and way-finding
- Liaise between visitors and medical staff
Rehab Therapy Support
Examples – Lyndhurst Spinal Cord Centre, Rumsey Neuro, Rumsey Cardiac, University Centre Geriatrics and MSK, Bickle Centre Complex Continuing Care, LTLD
- Assist in fostering a friendly environment for patients through social interaction
- Under the direction of the rehab therapist, assist patients to use “low-risk” equipment
- Assist in maintaining a safe and tidy patient by wiping down mats; main gym; changing pillows; returning equipment to appropriate rooms; and tidying walker and weight rooms
- Assist with clerical tasks such as: taking inventory; filing; literature searches; and photocopying
Mentorship Programs
Peter Munk Cardiac Mentorship, Transplant Mentorship, Prostate Mentorship, Breast Cancer Survivorship, Liver Mentorship, Aneurysm Mentorship, Peers Fostering Hope-Stroke Mentorship, Diabetes Mentorship, Rumsey Cardiac Centre, Rumsey Neuro Centre
- Former patients who mentor current patients experiencing the same diagnosis
Corporate Engagement | Volunteering
Corporate teams can volunteer with our Corporate Engagement Pillow for Patients program at Toronto General Hospital. For information, see our "Corporate Engagement Volunteering" page.
