NYSDOH Volunteer Guidance

NYSDOH Hospital Volunteer Guidance and Directions (01/14/2021)

With the recent surge in COVID-19 positive cases and considering the escalating operations to dispense vaccine, some health care facilities are seeking help from additional qualified health care professionals and related professions to temporarily supplement their current hospital capacity. NYSDOH has provided guidance for hospitals seeking emergency approval from the New York State (NYS) Department of Health (Department) for temporary use of qualified volunteers, or personnel affiliated with other general hospitals, to supplement your current hospital capacity, to account for the challenges presented by a surge of seriously ill COVID-19 positive patients and the dispensing of vaccine. Volunteers are not employed by NYS. Please be reminded that if the qualified volunteers want to be compensated for work performed, it is the hospital’s responsibility to compensate, not NYS.

COVID-19 Profession Request

If your hospital is experiencing a staffing shortage and is seeking a health care professional(s) to assist in providing medical services at your hospital, please access the COVID-19 Profession Request form that is available on the Health Commerce System (HCS) and is accessible to the Hospital CEO, COO, CMO (designated as the Medical Director in the HCS) or Director of Nursing

COVID-19 Profession Request - HCS Application Directions

NYSDOH Volunteer Portal

The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has a portal on its website for volunteers to offer their medical services

Volunteer Portal for Health Care Professionals
Volunteer Portal for College and University Students