Volunteer / Shadow / Learner Guidelines
Welcome to volunteering / shadowing / learning at Gallup Community Health (GCH). GCH is dedicated to providing affordable, excellent, comprehensive medical service to everyone in our community and, in service to this, we value the opportunity to support the education of the next generation of healthcare providers and involve the community in our important work.
- The policies set forth in this guideline are not all-inclusive but are intended to provide you with a summary of GCH’s expectations and requirements. Failure to follow the policies and procedures set forth in this guideline may result in involuntary termination of shadow / volunteer / learning experience.
- This guideline is not intended and should not be regarded as a contract or as a promise to provide specific experiences shadowing / volunteering / learning.
- Shadowing / volunteering / learning with GCH is at-will. This means that a shadow / volunteer / learner is free to resign at any time, with or without cause. Similarly, GCH may terminate the relationship at any time, with or without cause. This may impact any credit needed for training programs.
- No financial incentives will be exchanged between shadows / volunteers / learners and GCH.
- Shadows / volunteers / learners must be at least 16 years of age.
As a shadow / volunteer / learner, I agree to the following:
- Respect and cooperate with patients and clinic staff to ensure my presence does not interfere with patient care. This may involve being excluded from certain activities per patient preference or safety concerns.
- Shadows: only observe without any hands-on interaction with a patient, medical equipment, medical records, computers, body fluids, etc. Volunteers & learners whose tasks require hands-on interaction with any of the above: act in accordance with supervisor instruction and training / certification to ensure personal and patient safety.
- Use infection control practices such as handwashing and personal protective equipment (including masks) per current clinic policy.
- Protect patient confidentiality. Follow HIPAA and HITECH laws (additional training is available on request). This includes, but is not limited to, not seeking to obtain any patient information outside of what is directly part of the shadow / volunteer / learning experience, and not discussing any patient-related information with people who are not directly involved in patients’ medical care at GCH, and not taking any photographs or recordings, without patients’ and clinic staff’s explicit permission. Shadows / volunteers / learners who are given access to GCH IT resources (EMR, Outlook suite, staff Wi-Fi, GCH computers, etc.) must have read the IT policies and agree to them prior to IT access.
- Protect GCH’s confidentiality by not disclosing any aspect of the shadow / volunteer / learner experience or business that is not publicly available without permission from supervisor.
- Be free of communicable disease. Provide proof of negative TB testing from within the last year or be tested for TB at GCH. I will not come to my experience while actively ill. I will follow CDC guidelines for healthcare settings regarding isolation / quarantine if I am exposed to or am symptomatic with COVID-19.
- Be up to date on influenza and COVID vaccines per CDC definition.
- Provide proof of immunization or immunity for MMR, varicella and Tdap, and for anyone with potential exposure to bloodborne pathogen, Hepatitis B.
- Adhere to a previously agreed upon schedule which MUST be approved by Director of Education and Training Programs. Notify Director (and other direct supervisor if applicable) of changes to this schedule as soon as aware of them. Generally, shadowing will be limited to 10 hours per calendar year. Volunteering opportunities will be on an as-needed basis; no hours are guaranteed.
- Alert Director of Education and Training Programs to any concerns about personal or patient safety, or to concerns about the experience ASAP. Director of Education and Training: education@gallupcommunityhealth.org
- Not use or possess any tobacco, drugs or alcohol on or within 50 ft of GCH property. Not be impaired by drugs or alcohol while shadowing / volunteering / learning.
- Not use or possess any dangerous or unauthorized materials, such as explosives, firearms, or knives at GCH
- Not hold GCH liable for any illness / injury incurred during shadow / volunteer / learning experience, or theft or damage of any personal items / vehicles on GCH property.
- Respect GCH property by making every effort to keep it clean and well maintained, and not using for personal reasons.
- Respect patients and clinic staff regardless of individual’s race, color, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, religion, gender, age, disability, pregnancy, military or veteran status, serious medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, or any other legally protected characteristic. Being sexually explicit, using ethnic slurs, racial comments, off-color jokes, profanity or anything that may be construed as harassment or showing disrespect for others is forbidden. Intimidation, fighting, bullying behavior, threatening violence, sexual harassment are forbidden.
- Dress in a professional, clean and well-groomed manner. Wear closed toe shoes. Acceptable attire includes scrubs and “business casual.” Avoid denim, athletic and leisure apparel, revealing clothing, any article of clothing, jewelry, or decoration with offensive images, messages, or design elements, and clothing which is stained / ripped / frayed. Change clothes if requested by clinic staff. When tattoos or piercings are considered inappropriate by clinic staff, cover or remove them.
- Wear an identifying badge while at GCH. If I do not have a school ID that I can wear, I will notify the Director of Education for a temporary GCH badge.