Emergency Department SUPPORT Ambassadors

Ambassadors for the SUPPORT Clinical Research Training Program function as specialized hospital volunteers. Ambassadors will be trained to help screen and enroll eligible patients into several clinical research studies that are currently recruiting in the CHEO Emergency Department (ED). The specific goals of this initiative are to facilitate and support research and quality improvement activities involving patients in the ED.

As a SUPPORT Ambassador, you will be scanning the ED patient tracking system to capture possible patients for several clinical studies. This will entail determining eligibility of patients for the various studies and interacting with families and/or clinical staff. Given the emphasis on patient interaction, it is very important that applicants feel comfortable speaking to and interacting with patients from birth to 18 years of age as well as their family members. This position does not entail any data entry or writing of research proposals/papers. SUPPORT Ambassadors may often be responsible for determining a patient’s willingness to discuss participating in a study with a research assistant and completing the screening process by documenting activities on a screening log . Importantly, you will be liaising closely with the program coordinator who is committed to educating the SUPPORT Ambassadors and ensuring a high performance standard.

All selected SUPPORT Ambassadors must:

• Meet CHEO’s occupational health and safety requirements (proof of two-step TB test & up to date immunizations/serology including a minimum of 2 valid doses of a COVID-19 vaccine is required)

• Submit a Level 2 Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (completed within the last 6 months)

• Please note that reimbursement for expenses related to clinic visits/document completion/TB testing/immunizations/police record checks is not possible.

• Complete paperwork as required by CHEO Human Resources

• Attend the program orientation session to be held IN PERSON AT CHEO during the week of August 19, 2024 (exact date TBD) and the IN PERSON role-play session to be held during the week of August 26, 2024 (exact date TBD) (no exceptions will be made).

Current registered students or recently graduated students (less than 12 months) from an accredited post-secondary program (e.g. undergraduate, graduate, or nursing school) are eligible for this training program. No previous formal research training is necessary. International Medical Graduates are not eligible to apply for this program.

Qualifications:

To be considered for the position, you should possess:

• Excellent attention to detail and efficient time management skills
• Strong communication, interpersonal and organizational skills
• Ability to be self-directed, resourceful, flexible, and take initiative
• Be comfortable working independently or as part of a team
• Previous customer service skills and/or experience working with the general public is an asset

This is a volunteer opportunity. At the end of your  session, you will receive an official certificate of participation (upon request and only if you have remained in good standing with the program). Please note that we are happy to provide confirmation of participation in this initiative (i.e., verification of program participation), however, we are unable to write letters of reference due to the number of program participants both past and present.

This position primarily provides the opportunity to learn about the practicality of conducting research in a clinical setting. CHEO’s Emergency Department has an international reputation for high-quality clinical research. You will gain valuable experience communicating with patients and their families in the ED. 

Please note that we have taken and will continue to take every precaution in order to keep SUPPORT Ambassadors, research/clinical staff and patients/families safe. Should you be successful, you will receive training related to the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). You will have access to and be required to wear a a procedure mask  at all times when interacting with patients/families and circulating throughout the Emergency Department.  CHEO has also implemented a Universal COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. Everyone volunteering and working at CHEO needs to be fully vaccinated (minimum of 2 doses) and is required to report proof of all doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Occupational Health and Safety. If you have chosen  not to be vaccinated, you will not be able to volunteer/work at CHEO. Volunteers are required to complete a screening questionnaire should they be experiencing signs and symptoms of illness. This screening tool will indicate how to proceed. In the event that a volunteer is symptomatic, he/she/they will be restricted from volunteering at CHEO for a specified period of time until Occupational Health and Safety deems that it is safe to return.

Applications for the September 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024 session are now closed.

If you are interested in applying for the January to April 2025 session, please visit the website in early November for updated information.

Thank you for your interest in the CHEO ED SUPPORT Ambassador Program.