Emergency Department Academic Associate Research Volunteer

Academic Associates are required to commit to volunteering for a minimum of one academic year or summer. The commitment is two four-hour daytime shifts per week or one seven-hour overnight shift per week, plus one two-hour monthly meeting. In general, the following blocks of time are available for volunteer shifts seven days per week:

• Four hour shifts: 8am-12pm, 11:30am-3:30pm, 3-7pm, 6:30-10:30pm, 10pm-2am
• Seven hour shift: 1:30am-8:30am

Please consider that all rules and attendance requirements for the program will be strictly enforced. Failure to abide by the rules will result in a participants termination from the program.

• Ability to take instructions and communicate effectively with staff, patients, and families
• Good communication skills: oral, telephone, empathetic listening
• Mature, positive, service-oriented attitude
• Able to communicate clearly in English; bilingual skills are helpful
• Show initiative, be flexible and work independently as well as with others
• Demonstrate good judgment
• Ability to demonstrate empathy and respect a variety of patients and medical conditions

• Completion of New Volunteer Orientation
• Completion of annual mandatory volunteer in-services
• Completion of Department Specific Orientation
• Completion of on-line human subjects research training, CITI
• Attendance at on going Department training Updates

The primary function of an Academic Associate research volunteer is to assist with ongoing Department of Emergency Medicine research studies. These research studies, some of which go on to be published in medical journals, are created and directed by departmental faculty, resident and fellow physicians. Each study explores a different topic, but all share a common goal of gaining a better understanding of medical and social issues affecting emergency patients.

The knowledge gained from each research study provides insight into basic human issues concerning patients, and offers answers about how to improve patients' experiences in the emergency department.

• Identify patients eligible for ongoing research projects and work with emergency department physicians and nurses to confirm patient eligibility
• Study administrative support to include review of completed data forms, assisting and training other students
• Assist physician in completion of study enrollment forms
• Complete study procedures, to include consenting patients, completing case report forms, conducting patient testing as per research protocol, and research related study observations
• Conduct follow-up phone calls and data entry

We are currently accepting applications for the 2011 – 2012 academic year. We begin accepting applications in April for the current Fall and January for the following Summer semesters. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the program is full. To apply, please complete the Associate Research Volunteer application and submit electronically.

Please provide 2 recommendations from non-family members who can discuss your suitability to volunteering in a hospital setting. Send them the url for this page and they can download the recommendation form from the right column, complete the form online and e-mail to wojciks@upstate.edu directly.

Once you are an approved participant in the program, the Manager of Volunteer Services will email you the volunteer checklist and health forms. Afterwards, you will receive an ID badge and meet with the Manager of Volunteer Services to finalize the volunteer requirements. Afterwards, you will provide the Program Coordinator with your ID number so that you can complete the Academic Associate Research Volunteer requirements and then begin the program.