Volunteer at Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital

People 18 and older can volunteer at Chester County Hospital in a variety of roles. Volunteer shifts range from 3 to 4 hours and are scheduled weekly. Volunteers are typically placed in one of the following positions:

• Public/patient visitor services: Greet and assist patients and guests, provide directions, help patients check in and register.
• Clinical patient care support: Assist in clinical areas by running errands, stocking supplies, and moving equipment.
• Non-patient services/clerical: Assist with clerical and administrative tasks in offices and departments that support operations. Duties may include filing, data entry, sorting, and collating materials.
• Pet therapy: Visit the hospital with your therapy dog and Interact with patients, visitors, and staff. Must be accredited through Therapy Dogs International or Bright and Beautiful.
• Music therapy/Harmonies in Healing: Work with area artists to share music and spread notes of healing and hope throughout the hospital.
• Mended Hearts: Mended Hearts is a national and community-based support network for heart and vascular patients. Volunteers must first complete the Mended Hearts International accreditation training before working with heart patients.
• Bilingual services: Help patients and visitors with directions, check-in, registration, and similar information needs.

Apply to become an adult volunteer

Chester County Hospital offers two VolunTEEN programs—ideal for high school students who want to learn more about careers in healthcare or who want to give back by volunteering in their community. VolunTEEN programs are open for students in ninth to 12th grades, but geared to those in 10th and 11th grades.

• Weekend VolunTEEN Program (year-round): This program is full and not accepting new applications. This program is for students in their sophomore or junior year of high school. Student volunteers work with VolunTEEN coordinators to perform tasks throughout the hospital, such as compiling charts and kits, assembling patient handbooks, running errands, and providing basic support on nursing floors. Students are assigned shifts from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturdays or Sundays. Attendance is tracked and enforced. Students are permitted up to eight absences per year.
• Summer VolunTEEN Program (8 weeks, June-August): Our applications are now closed for 2025. If you are selected for the program, our volunteer office will contact you with next steps. Applications will reopen in March 2026. This program is ideal for students, ages 16 to 18. Participants are assigned to one three-hour morning or afternoon shift per week. Students will shadow and work with seasoned volunteers to run errands in the hospital, help with patient discharges, and provide basic support for nursing floors.

Chester County Hospital offers volunteer opportunities to college students who are 18 and older.

College student volunteers are expected to make a consistent commitment throughout their volunteer term.

Application deadlines

• Prospective fall volunteers (September through December): Applications are due in the month of August. (Our fall applications are now full. Please consider applying in December for the spring semester).
• Prospective spring volunteers (January through May): Applications are due in the month of December.
• Prospective summer volunteers (May through August): Applications are due in the month of April.

Apply to become a college volunteer

Please note: We receive hundreds of volunteer applications each year. We cannot respond to all applications or place all students who would like to volunteer. We thank you for your interest!

• Emergency Department: Assist the busy staff by running errands, stocking supplies, and preparing the unit.
• Prep and recovery: Support the nursing staff before and after procedures by preparing units, stocking and re-stocking supplies, and helping with patient discharges.
• Errands and transportation: Complete errands, help with patient discharges, and help deliver cards, gifts, and flowers to patients in the hospital.
• Procedural Suite concierge: Support patients and their care people who are waiting during surgical procedures.
• Pet therapy: Visit the hospital with your therapy dog and interact with patients, visitors, and staff. Dogs must have a AKC Canine Good Citizen Certification and an annual certification through accredited agencies: Therapy Dog International (TDI), Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs, or KPets. They must stay up-to-date on certifications, health checks, and immunizations.
• Volunteer chaplain: Offer interfaith spiritual support to patients with the support of the Hospital Chaplain.
• Baby cuddling: Support NICU and pediatrics staff by rocking and calming babies. Advanced training and a yearlong commitment is required. Note: The Baby cuddling program is currently full. New applicants will be placed on a waitlist.

• Radiology filing: This role calls for tech-savvy volunteers to support the Radiology Department by preparing patient imaging copies for orders, inputting computer data, answering phones, and filling file requests.
• Volunteer services workroom: Help the Volunteer Services Department staff prepare department charts, brochures, and patient handbooks. Assist with filing and outgoing mail.
• Medical library clerk: Ideal for a volunteer who likes to work independently. A background or interest in research, cataloging, shelving, and medical publications is preferred. Computer skills, writing, and good interpersonal skills are also a plus.

• Cancer center volunteer (Abramson Cancer Center): Help staff greet patients and visitors. Help with check-in and talk with patients waiting for treatment. Volunteers also help stock supplies and check on patients in the treatment area.
• Outpatient physical therapy aide (Fern Hill Medical Campus): Help in the outpatient physical therapy gym by cleaning equipment, stocking supplies, making and storing hot/cold packs, and performing other general duties for PT staff and patients.
• Outpatient laboratory and outpatient radiology greeter (Fern Hill, Oaklands, and Exton): Help staff welcome and check in patients, monitor the waiting area, and keep appointments moving efficiently.
• Information desk greeter (Southern Chester County Penn Medicine): Welcome patients and visitors and check in patients for outpatient diagnostic testing appointments.
• Knitting, crocheting, and sewing: Currently accepting: Fabric teddy bears to give out to our pediatric patients in the Emergency Department and stuffed heart shaped pillows for incisional support. Note: Unfortunately, we cannot accept knitted baby hats due to SafeSleep protocols. We appreciate your years of generosity! 

• Main Lobby information desk attendant: Welcome patients, visitors, and staff; give directions and answer questions. Basic computer and telephone skills and exceptional customer interaction skills are required.
• Red Coat Ambassador: Be part of the Main Lobby welcoming team for patients and visitors, escort guests, and partner with valets and information desk staff to provide excellent customer service.
• Hospital gift shop and retail pharmacy: Volunteers with experience in retail are preferred for roles in these locations.