(801) 662-1000
100 North Mario Capecchi Dr.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84113Map

Primary Children's Medical Center

Volunteer at the Hospital

Welcome to Primary Children's Medical Center. Children are at the heart of what we do, and our motto is: "The Child First and Always." Volunteers have been an integral part of caring for children and families for more than 50 years.


For the safety and comfort of our patients, we respectfully ask that volunteers:

  • Be at least 18 years old and a high school graduate
  • Commit to 6 months of service
    Volunteers come each week on the same day and at the same time
  • Complete an application
  • Provide two references
  • Interview
  • Attend the Primary Children's new hire orientation
  • Comply with health volunteer requirements
    A two-step tuberculosis screening and proof of current immunizations
  • Consent to a criminal background check
  • Obtain a picture ID
  • Purchase and wear a volunteer uniform
  • Obtain a parking permit
  • Be physically able to complete the tasks required of the position
  • Pass a drug screening test

The complexion of our community has changed, and Primary Children's is now a level one trauma center, which means we are certified to treat the most severely injured children requiring the most complex care. Despite these changes, the volunteer tradition continues. Our volunteers continue to love and care for our little ones with the same concern and commitment.


How do I begin?
If you would like more information about our volunteer program, please call during the first two weeks of each month. Be prepared to share the days and times your schedule will allow you to make a six-month commitment.

Volunteer Department
Primary Children's Medical Center
100 N. Medical Dr.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84113
Phone: (801) 662-6560

Email: PCMCVolunteers@imail.org

Assignments Working with Patients
Every volunteer position contributes to the well-being of the children we serve.

  • New! Volunteers needed for reading program
    Primary Children's is seeking volunteers for a new one-on-one reading program. If you enjoy reading or telling stories to children in English or another language, please consider volunteering. The time commitment is 1-2 pm Tuesday through Thursday. If you have a
    • - love of books and stories
    - genuine interest in offering children quiet, literacy-related healing time
    - good active listening skills
    - the ability to work with diverse populations

    Contact the Volunteer office at 801.662.6560 or email at     PCMCVolunteers@imail.org

  • Patient/Family Consultant
    Patient/Family Consultants will make visits to each newly-admitted patient family in order to offer assistance or provide information. Patient/Family Consultants will help make the transition to the hospital less stressful and connect the family with any hospital staff who can help them with questions or needs.
  • Adjunct Chaplain
    Shifts: Weekends and evenings
    We have an extraordinary Adjunct Chaplain program. Adjunct Chaplains assist the Primary Children's Chaplain in providing spiritual and religious support to patients, families, and hospital staff, with emphasis on weekend and evening on-call coverage in the Emergency Department and the Intensive Care Units.

  • Child Life
    Child Life is at the heart of working with children. As a volunteer, you would assist the Child Life staff in helping patients and families have a positive hospital experience by playing age-appropriate games, helping patients with craft projects, helping clean toys.
    • Inpatient
      Shifts: 9am-noon, Monday-Sunday; and 1-4pm, Monday-Sunday
      Unit-specific inpatient assignments will continue in the evening
      Shifts: 5:30-8pm, Monday-Friday
      Volunteers could be assigned to any of the following inpatient areas:
      • Children's Medical Unit
      • Children's Surgical Unit
      • Forever Young Zone Playroom
      • Immunocompromised Unit
      • Infant Medical Surgical Unit
      • Neuroscience/Trauma Unit
      • Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
      • Rapid Treatment Unit
    • Outpatient
      Shifts: 9am-noon, Monday-Friday; and 1-4pm, Monday-Friday
      Unit specific volunteer assignments in the outpatient areas include:
      • Clinics A and B
      • Laboratory
      • Medical Imaging
      • Oncology/Hematology

  • Presurgery Preparation Program
    This program acquaints patients and parents with the hospital setting as they prepare for surgery.
    Shifts: 4-6pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

  • Children's Education Services
    Shifts: 9am-noon, Monday-Friday; and 1-4pm, Monday-Friday
    • Book Cart: Provide literacy materials to patients and families to take home, emphasizing early literacy.
    • Education Specialist Assistant: Children are encouraged to work on school assignments, as they are able. Volunteers provide support to patients and their families under the direction of the Primary Children's Education Specialist. Volunteers assist patients in reading and completing academic tasks provide by the student's community school or the hospital Education Specialist.

  • Family-to-Family (Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes, Newborn ICU, Spina Bifida)
    The Family-to-Family Volunteer provides support for patients, families and caregivers. This support is offered in an attempt to decrease feelings of isolation, to offer practical strategies for coping, and to provide mentorship. Volunteers are referred by Primary Children's Medical Social Workers.
  • Inpatient Rehabilitation Therapy
    Shifts: 9am-noon, Monday-Friday; and 1pm-4 pm, Monday-Friday
    This position will be of particular interest to students interested in a career in PT/OT. The volunteer may have opportunities to observe and assist therapists directly in tasks. They sanitize tools, toys, and equipment as well as cleaning areas where the children are receiving treatment. Volunteers are generally students in physical therapy or occupational therapy.

  • Language Interpretation
    Shifts: varies
    We have a need for volunteers to assist Spanish-speaking patients and families who don't speak, write, or understand English. Volunteers will have an opportunity to be assigned to many departments throughout the hospital

  • Newborn Intensive Care Unit Cuddlers (inpatient)
    Shifts: 9am-noon, Monday-Friday; and 1-4pm, Monday-Friday
    Assist the NICU nursing staff by holding and/or comforting babies.

  • Pet Therapy
    Shift: 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday
    We love our therapy teams! They provide diversion, motivation, and non-threatening social interaction to patients. Visits help in patient recovery and emotional health. Teams must be certified.

  • Outpatient Oncology Clinic (outpatient)
    Shifts: 9am-noon, Monday-Friday; and 1-4pm, Monday-Friday
    Greet hematology/oncology patients and families to the clinic and make them comfortable while they wait for treatment.

  • Junior Volunteers
    Juniors volunteer the summer before their 11th or 12th grade in high school. Nine-week commitment, mid-June through mid-August, one day per week from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm Applications available first two weeks in April.
Assignments with little or no patient interaction
  • Catering
    Shift: 8:45am-noon, Monday-Friday
    Every morning parents welcome a cart filled with muffins, juice, donuts, and milk. A volunteer takes the cart to all inpatient units and announces its arrival. Upon returning the cart to catering, the volunteer will help prepare for the next day. This is a welcome service for parents and allows the volunteers to get throughout the inpatient units. This assignment requires a food handler's permit.

  • Child Advocacy
    Shifts: One 3-hour shift each week
    Assist with tasks such as copying, collating, stapling, preparing handouts and give away items for presentation in the hospital and in the community, helping with mailings to agencies in the community.

  • Foundation
    Shifts: 9am-noon, Monday-Friday; and 1-4pm, Monday-Friday
    • Community and Hospital Liaison: Organize and distribute gifts in kind to departments within the hospital and community. Assist in preparing for special events.
    • Campaign Office Clerk: Assist the Annual Campaign staff in acknowledging donors and processing Pennies by the Inch contributions.
    • Finance Office Clerk: Assist the Foundation Department with mailings, copying, filing, and record keeping.

  • Gift Shop
    Shifts: 9am-noon, Monday-Sunday; 1-4:30pm, Monday-Sunday;
    and 4:30/5-8pm, Monday-Sunday
    Our Gift Shop becomes a retreat for many of our families. Volunteers create a warm and friendly environment while providing excellent customer service to patients, families, and guests. Please consider this assignment if you would like to contribute to the mission of the hospital but may not want to volunteer one-on-one with children. We need you!

  • North Information Desk
    Shifts: 8am-noon, Monday-Friday; 1-4:30pm, Monday-Sunday
    and 4:30-8pm, Monday-Sunday
    Volunteers are frequently the first to greet guests to the hospital. Volunteers become familiar with the entire hospital as they direct and escort guests and families, provide patient information and general hospital information. Volunteers have an opportunity to visit patient rooms on occasion as they deliver flowers, and patient mail. Please consider this assignment if you would like to contribute to the mission of the hospital but may not want to volunteer one-on-one with children. We need you!

  • Parent Resource Center
    Shifts: 4:30 pm - 8:30 pm Monday-Friday; and 11:30am-3:30pm Saturday
    A great place to volunteer if you would like to assist families by assessing needs and offering supportive services as appropriate. Assistance could include facilitating housing and/or transportation arrangements (air, bus or taxi). Volunteers will assist with Care Pages, computer, telephone, photocopying and fax capabilities.

  • South Information Desk
    Shifts: Daytime Monday-Friday
    Greet and provide general hospital information to families and guests.

Primary Children's Medical Center has a junior volunteer program
The Junior Volunteer Program is a nine-week summer program. It is designed for high school students to volunteer the summer before either their 11th or 12th grades.

Applications are accepted the first two weeks in April for the program that begins in June. Call (801) 662-6560 or come into the hospital to obtain an application, or we can mail or fax one to you.

Interviews are held the first Saturday morning in May. The program generally runs from mid-June through mid-August. The exact dates of the program vary according to the last scheduled day of school.

Junior Volunteers come one day a week, always the same day, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm They are placed in two different areas during the summer – a morning and an afternoon placement.

Junior Volunteers are required to show proof of immunizations, complete a two-step tuberculosis screening, purchase and wear a uniform, obtain a picture ID and parking pass, have parental permission, and, if necessary, obtain a food handler's permit.

Can a Primary Children's employee volunteer?
Yes! Employees of Primary Children's are welcome to apply for a volunteer position; however, the Fair Labor Act restricts us from placing an employee in the same area in which they work and receive compensation. Assignments and placements are dependent upon the need of the departments and units.

Employees who volunteer must:

  • Commit to six months of service, coming each week on the same day and time
  • Complete an application
  • Provide two references
  • Interview
  • Attend the Volunteer Services portion of the orientation
  • Obtain a volunteer picture ID
  • Purchase and wear a volunteer uniform
  • Be physically able to complete the tasks required by the position
  • Pass a drug screening test

All other volunteer requirements will have been met as a result of employment.

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