Volunteer Hospital Service Coordinator (HSC)

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) operates a fleet of vehicles around the country to provide free transportation to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities for injured and ill veterans. DAV stepped in to help veterans get the care they need when the federal government terminated its program that helped many of them pay for transportation to and from medical facilities. The vehicles are driven by volunteers, and the rides are coordinated by Hospital Service Coordinators (HSC) around the country. 

The impact the DAV Transportation Network makes on the veteran community cannot be overstated. Many veterans, for a variety of reasons, would not be able to access their much-needed medical appointments without this service. The effect that volunteers who comprise the Transportation Network have on veterans and families in their local communities is tremendous. 

DAV HSCs play an important part in our efforts to assist injured and ill veterans. They are the front line for the DAV Transportation Network, by scheduling rides, keeping vehicles running safely, and reporting volunteer activities to DAV National Headquarters. There are over 161 HSCs covering transportation programs at more than 231 VA Medical facilities. These DAV HSCs assemble corps of volunteer drivers and coordinate them with hospital transportation requests. The DAV Transportation Network is the largest program of its kind for veterans in the nation. Without this program, many veterans may have no way to access their health care. The DAV Hospital Service Coordinator position was established to assume the responsibility for coordinating the Transportation Network.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the DAV Transportation Network with appropriate services
• Provide all volunteer drivers with the HSC's or Coordinator's name, office location, and telephone number.
• Receive the transportation request and determine the transportation eligibility of patients.
• Supervise all the volunteer transportation drivers.
• Contact the volunteer transportation drivers and make the assignments.
• Provide funds for transportation, as needed, to indigent and/or needy patients.
• Prepare and distribute all reports to Department and National DAV Headquarters.
• Report all incidents and accidents to the designated VA or DAV staff, as appropriate.
• Update DAV Headquarters with any changes to the Hospital Service Coordinator Directory. Updates are emailed out at the beginning of each month to all HSCs and make sure the directory stays up to date. 

HSC Volunteer Schedule

• The program will be ongoing all throughout the year except weekends and federal holidays.
• Monday through Friday  8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Volunteers may work a maximum of 40 hours per week.
• Volunteers may work a minimum of one day per month.
• Volunteers may work a minimum of 4 hours per day. 

Volunteer Award Incentives - Volunteers that donate their time to DAV become eligible for the Volunteer Recognition Program.

 Volunteer Spotlight - College student volunteers in his free time by driving veterans to and from their VA medical appointments.

How to Apply Overview

• The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Health (VHA) Care System is responsible for processing all volunteer onboarding packages. This process can take 1 to 4 months depending on the applicant and the volunteer position. 
• Go to DAV Sonoma Chapter 48's website to follow the step-by-step process.  https://dav48sonoma.org/transportation/
• Complete online forms and training.
• Download and complete the onboarding forms and submit paper documents to the local VHA Center for Development and Civic Engagement Department (formerly Volunteer Service) in San Francisco by regular mail or the VA internal mail system by dropping off the paperwork at a VA clinic in Santa Rosa.
• Complete all volunteer training. 

HSC positions may work out of either the South Santa Rosa VA Clinic on Challenger Way or at the San Franciso VA Medical Center (SFVAMC).

For questions please contact DAV Chapter 48 via email ([email protected]) or by phone at 707-595-0324

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