South Texas Health System Volunteering

At South Texas Health System, there are more than 350 student and adult volunteers helping provide high-quality service to patients and their families. Because South Texas Health System is the largest hospital system in the Rio Grande Valley, there are many opportunities to choose from. You can volunteer during the day, in the evening or on weekends. If you have four hours a week to make a difference in someone’s life, please join the Auxiliary to South Texas Health System volunteer organization.

The Auxiliary to South Texas Health System accepts applications year round, but on-boards new volunteers at the start of each fall, spring and summer.

The Auxiliary only accepts and processes applications online.

The upcoming application deadline to start in the summer is May 1^st.

You will be contacted by the Director of Volunteer Services once your submission is reviewed. Each volunteer will go through an orientation and be placed in areas of interest and need.

In order to volunteer online, fill out and submit the online application. If you prefer to mail in your application, print out and complete this form.

There are many perks to being a volunteer at South Texas Health Systems, including a 20% discount on gift items in the Gift Shop, a $5 meal voucher for the cafeteria, free flu shot and TB testing, and access to hospital educational programs, in-services and workshops.

People volunteer for different reasons, such as to become actively involved in giving back to the community, build lasting relationships, develop new skills, perform school community service hours, make great use of your time and talents, lift spirits when people are sick, or just because it makes you feel good about yourself. Whatever the reason, volunteers truly do make a difference.

Volunteers with the Auxiliary to South Texas Health System range in age from 15 years old to 90 plus. They are students, retirees, those with special skills who have extra time, and individuals who are fully employed.

The Auxiliary to South Texas Health System has two groups of volunteers:

Auxiliary — Comprised of adult men and women who donate not only their time in departments throughout the hospital, but also give out scholarships, continuing education and donations to employees and other non-for-profit organizations in the community. The Auxiliary is able to give generous financial donations each year through money raised from the gift shop and various fundraising projects.

Junior Volunteers — Comprised of young men and women (15 years minimum), many from local high schools, South Texas College and the University of Texas Pan American, who volunteer for educational goals and work experience. Volunteers are accepted three times per year for fall, spring or summer semester placement. Junior volunteers serve about 48 hours per semester or four hours per week.

What Can Volunteers Do?

As a volunteer, you choose from these opportunities:

Patient Care — Choose from these volunteer areas: Oncology, Medical, Orthopedics, Telemetry, Surgical, OB/GYN, Nursery, Pediatrics, Skilled and Rehab nursing. Interact with nurses and support staff, answer the phone, pick up meal trays, make up chart packs, refill water pitchers, serve drinks, file lab sheets and help escort patients.

Emergency Services — Help patients fill out triage forms, assist visitors, get supplies, help to discharge patients and manage waiting areas.

Dietetics — Conduct patient surveys and assist dietitians.

Physical Therapy — Assist physical therapists.

Information Desk — Welcome patients, visitors and families to the hospital. Answer phones, give directions, and deliver flowers and mail to patients.

Gift Shop — Assist hospital guests and staff with purchases, use a cash register, and help stock merchandise.

Transport/Escort — Help patients in wheelchairs. Deliver labs, medical records supplies and escort visitors.

Clerical — Help with a variety of duties such as filing, collating, addressing and stuffing envelopes, answering phones and running errands. Some tasks require computer skills.

Surgery/ICU/CCU Waiting Areas — Welcome and keep family members and friends informed about patients’ progress.

For more information about volunteering at South Texas Health System McAllen, please call 956-632-4299.