As a volunteer in NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital's Summer College Intensive Program (SCIP), you will gain the knowledge and experience that comes from directly caring for patients while participating in enriching educational opportunities and training.

Our Mission

The SCIP program aims to enhance the quality of care for hospitalized patients while augmenting the education of future healthcare practitioners. SCIP volunteers are able to build competency, communication skills and compassion through direct immersion in real-world healthcare situations.

SCIP Activities

As a SCIP participant, you will be engaged in the following:

• Direct patient care, 16 hours a week, for a minimum of 128 hours. Volunteers will respond to call bells, facilitate patient and family communication with healthcare teams, round to provide companionship and emotional support to patients, conduct fall prevention rounds, and assist with patients' meals. Task supervision is provided by nursing staff.
• Educational opportunities, including lectures by leading healthcare practitioners, weekly readings in humanistic medicine, and skill-building trainings. Past lectures have included physicians in radiation oncology, trauma surgery, and orthopedics. Trainings have included fall prevention training, empathic communication, and cultural competency.
• Optional experience, with additional shifts available in the Resident Evaluation Project, survey research, and other special projects.

Program Requirements

• Attendance at orientation is mandatory. There will be 2 sessions offered and participants can choose the session they would like to attend.
• Medical clearance is required prior to commencing the program.
• SCIP participants must commit to four, four-hour shifts per week (with a minimum of 128 hours of service), in addition to attendance at lectures. Because this is a highly structured and scheduled program, students will not be granted any time off. Interested participants may extend their service through the end of the summer or into the fall.
• Attendance at all lectures is required. There will be at least six lectures.
• There will be a $15.00 non-refundable administrative fee collected at the start of the program.

Schedule

The program starts on a rolling basis from the date of the orientation session selected.  Training will only commence once the participant has attended orientation, has been medically cleared, and completed all the onboarding requirements. Volunteers are welcome to extend their service through the month of August if desired.

Patient care shifts will be available 7 days a week between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Shifts are 4 hours each (typically 8am-12pm, 12pm-4pm, 4pm-8pm, and 6pm-10pm). Participants will be able to choose their preferred shifts. Please note that the six lectures will typically take place on weekday mornings/early afternoons, and may not be on a day participants are scheduled to volunteer.