Frequently Asked Questions

The Clinic is a 4-day, volunteer-driven healthcare event at Seattle Center. It provides free healthcare to people in need. It is a community endeavor led by Seattle Center and Seattle Center Foundation and produced in collaboration with many partner organizations.

If you do not have a volunteer account, create one by visiting seattlecenter.org/volunteers and clicking NEW VOLUNTEER SIGN UP. Leave the EVENTS & ASSIGNMENTS section blank (there are no events currently available). Complete all the information on the form. Then SAVE AND SUBMIT it to create your account.

If you already have a volunteer account (even if you have not yet volunteered at an event), you can access your account DASHBOARD by visiting seattlecenter.org/volunteers and clicking RETURNING VOLUNTEER SIGN IN. Here you can UPDATE your contact information and, once 2026 registration opens, REGISTER for a specific event, EDIT your existing event schedule, or CANCEL your event participation entirely.

Volunteer registration for the 2026 Clinic will open Monday, January 5, 2026; a notification will be sent to the email address listed in your account. Beginning on this day, you will be able to select your desired event(s), day(s), and assignment(s) from your account DASHBOARD.

Visit our homepage at seattlecenter.org/skcclinic to read our final reports, view videos, or find media stories. You can also visit our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn pages.

Since the first Clinic in 2014, we have worked with a specialist who is certified in infection control and epidemiology to help ensure we take appropriate health safety measures throughout our operations. These are just some of the measures we are taking.

• All participants will undergo a health screening each day.
• Volunteers and staff are encouraged to be vaccinated for flu and COVID-19 for personal safety and to help protect others, but it is not required.
• Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the Clinic.
• Surfaces and equipment will be sanitized after use.
• All Clinic facilities meet or exceed CDC/ASHRAE standards for ventilation and use MERV 13 filters.

Yes and no. If you previously completed the online registration form (which created your volunteer account) then you do not need to complete a new registration form. However, you will need to login, confirm your information is still correct and select which event(s), day(s) and assignment(s) you want this year.

Go to seattlecenter.org/volunteers and click RETURNING VOLUNTEER SIGN IN. Log in with your username and password to access your account DASHBOARD. Here you can UPDATE your contact information, REGISTER for a specific event, EDIT an existing event registration, or CANCEL your event participation entirely.

Please DO NOT fill out and submit a completely new registration. Instead, please contact [email protected] or 206-615-1835 for help. We can tell you your username and reset your password.

If your online registration was saved and submitted (very end of the registration page), you should have received both an onscreen and email confirmation (and a text confirmation if you signed up for that option) immediately following your submission. Please be sure to check your spam/junk folder and add [email protected] to your safe senders list. If you still can’t find it, please contact [email protected] or call 206-615-1835.

It will vary by assignment, but for some assignments the day is not broken into shifts because it impacts efficiency and reduces the number of patients that can be served. The full length of a shift (check-in time – end time) is shown next to each assignment in the online registration system.

The Clinic will begin distributing patient admission tickets at 5:30 AM. Patients are admitted to register at 6:30 AM and the Clinic generally lasts until 6 PM. Volunteers are also needed to help with set-up and take-down in the days before and after the Clinic.

Yes. The registration system, however, does not allow you to select more than one shift in a day. Instead, just sign up for the first shift that you can attend and then plan to stay on for the second shift of the same assignment. We’re always glad to accommodate volunteers who want to continue working.

Go to seattlecenter.org/volunteers and click RETURNING VOLUNTEER SIGN IN. Log in with your username and password to access your account DASHBOARD. Here you can UPDATE your contact information, REGISTER for a specific event, EDIT your existing event schedule, or CANCEL your event participation entirely.

Be sure to click SAVE AND SUBMIT at the end of the registration form. If you have problems, please email [email protected] or call 206-615-1835.

When reviewing the list of assignments, if you see the term “Waiting List” next to an assignment name that means it is currently full. In this case you have 3 options:

1. Choose a different assignment.
2. Choose that assignment and be put on a wait list. If you are only on the wait list, you are not scheduled to participate unless an opening occurs.
3. Choose that assignment and be put on a wait list and then select an alternate assignment. In this case you are scheduled for the alternate assignment unless an opening occurs for your wait-listed assignment. If you choose to be on the wait list, we highly recommend you select an alternate assignment so you can still participate.

If an opening becomes available in your wait list assignment and you are moved into it, you will receive an email notice of this change and any alternate assignment will automatically be canceled.

Yes! We need over 400 General Support (non-clinical) volunteers each day of the Clinic to help with patient registration, escorting patients, managing lines and waiting areas, providing interpretation, distributing snacks, etc. And don’t forget the set-up and take-down needs in the days before and after the Clinic.

Yes, U.S. licensed healthcare practitioners from out-of-state can volunteer for up to 30 days per year at free health clinics or events. Volunteers must read and complete this Washington State Department of Health online attestation form no less than 10 working days before the event: https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/opinio/s?s=VOLATT

Yes, we welcome student participation, however student spaces are limited, and students may be restricted in their involvement in direct patient care. The criteria for student participation also vary by discipline. More details will be available by December 2025.

Students who do not meet the stated requirements or are unable to secure a student assignment due to limited availability are encouraged to participate as General Support volunteers so they can still experience and contribute to the Clinic. Students fluent in other languages are also needed as interpreters.

Many groups or offices volunteer on the same day, however, each person must register individually. Where you are scheduled to work may differ according to the assignment you are filling, but there will be opportunities for you to interact with your friends and colleagues during the day. List your organization/employer in the registration system so we know you’re there together.

We welcome having healthcare professionals work with their regular team, however, each person needs to register individually. List your organization/employer in the registration system so we know what team you’re with or if your organization/employer will need a report of volunteers after the clinic.

Yes. Regardless of compensation status from your organization, you are still considered a volunteer by the Clinic and will need to complete the same registration process as other volunteers.

Yes. We ask that you volunteer for at least a complete shift on one day—additional days are optional, but keep in mind that we need a lot of volunteers! Please encourage friends and colleagues to participate too. And don’t forget the set-up and take-down needs in the days and weeks before and after the Clinic.

For legal reasons, all volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. If your child meets this age requirement and wants to come with you, they must register as a full-fledged volunteer.

General Support (non-clinical) volunteers are instrumental in the operation of the Clinic. You may select assignments such as patient registration, patient escort, waiting area monitor, volunteer check-in, paperwork processing, supply restocking, etc. We also have a pool of volunteers called General Support – As Assigned who we place in assignments where people are most needed. Clinic organizers may do this in advance of the Clinic or on the event day itself.

We also need help during set-up and take-down in the days before and after the Clinic. Special skills and/or ability to lift heavy objects are not required. You might help sort and inventory supplies, assemble kits, lay out instruments, put up signs, etc.

If you are a healthcare professional and clinical assignments in your field are full, you are more than welcome to volunteer in a General Support capacity. Your healthcare expertise often proves useful even in these assignments.

Overnight volunteers are the first people patients encounter, and, as such, they set the stage for a positive Clinic experience. Beginning at 12:30 AM, Fisher Pavilion opens for patients to arrive, receive a health screening, take shelter, and get in line. If you are a General Support volunteer, you will be answering patient questions, providing information about what patients will experience during the Clinic, giving directions, monitoring the waiting area, distributing snacks and water, etc.

Seattle Center staff and security are on site to manage the overnight operation, overall.

More information about assignments will be available by December 2025.

We make General Support (G) assignments open to any volunteer. Sometimes assignments for healthcare professionals may be full, or we don’t need your profession this year, but you would still like to participate in the Clinic. In other cases, such as set-up, since we’re not treating patients on those days your profession isn’t technically needed. However, your capable hands and even healthcare expertise are still very useful in a General Support capacity.

It is up to each individual practitioner to ensure they have, or that they secure, malpractice insurance that covers their work in the Clinic. If your malpractice insurance is provided by your employer, in some cases it won’t cover you outside of your place of employment. It is your responsibility to confirm if it does.

If your current malpractice insurance doesn’t cover you in this setting, or you are at all in doubt, many U.S. licensed healthcare professionals can apply for free malpractice insurance, paid for by the Department of Health, through the Volunteer and Retired Provider Program. Seattle/King County Clinic is an approved site. Details at wahealthcareaccessalliance.org/vrp-program.

Patients will sign a liability waiver that helps to protect all volunteers but does not alleviate the need for malpractice insurance. This Clinic is an approved mission of the Public Health Reserve Corps (Seattle & King County), and members who volunteer will be covered under that program.

No, you are not obligated to provide follow-up care. Any Washington State provider who is willing to take clinic referrals (free or sliding-scale), whether or not they volunteer at the Clinic, should contact [email protected].

Interpreters do not need to be trained or medically certified, just fluent in speaking the language. Interpreters are needed to help patients register, navigate throughout the building, and understand the overall process. The top languages needed for interpretation are ASL, Amharic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Tigrinya, and Ukrainian. We use AMN Healthcare for remote video and phone interpretation for healthcare-related conversations. Interpreters should not register as volunteers on the same date they plan to accompany a friend or family member as a patient.

Yes, but not on the same day. If you choose to come on a different day, you must pursue the same process as any other patient by waiting in line to get a ticket, etc. Please be sure you are not wearing your volunteer t-shirt, badge, or any other items that make you look like a volunteer. Volunteers will not be given admission tickets, registration paperwork or any services dedicated for patients.

No, all volunteers at the Clinic will be fed meals and snacks. If you have special dietary needs, you may choose to bring your own food as we may not be able to meet those needs.

We arrange for group rates at nearby hotels. Visit seattlecenter.org/volunteers or contact [email protected] for the most up-to-date information.

Yes, there will be both police and campus security onsite. Still, we ask that volunteers leave valuables at home. Only bring with you what is absolutely necessary, keep important items on your person for safekeeping. The parking garage is patrolled by campus security, but to help prevent break-ins please keep items out of sight. We are not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged possessions.

Past volunteers have declared this experience to be enjoyable and rewarding, and we hope you’ll agree!

Volunteers will receive an email with a link to orientation and reference materials a few weeks prior to participation. This will address everything from how to get here, the location for free volunteer parking, when and where to check in, what to bring, as well as information specific to your volunteer assignment. Please be sure to read through these materials even if you volunteered before as information may have changed. We want you to be fully informed about what to expect before arriving.

Short onsite orientations will be given by area leadership at the start of each day. Late cancellations and no-shows impact the number of patients we are able to serve. If you discover you are unable to participate, please be sure to cancel your registration online or contact us as soon as possible so we can find someone else to fill your assignment.

No. All patients, regardless of income, insurance, housing, or United States citizenship status, are eligible to receive care on a first-come, first-served basis. Patients will not be asked for documentation of any type when being admitted to the Clinic.

The Clinic welcomes the LGBTQIA+ community. Our core principles include that all people (patients, volunteers, guests, and staff) are treated with compassion and respect. We do our best to reinforce this in orientation materials and onsite training and are pleased by the positive feedback we have received from patients about how they were treated. We also encourage volunteers to learn about populations unfamiliar to them by reading informational materials we provide. Many healthcare providers indicate on their registration that they are LGBTQIA+ competent; however, with such a large number of volunteers, we cannot be certain that all volunteers have that competency.

The line will be located inside Fisher Pavilion on the Seattle Center campus (corner of Sue Bird Court N. and Lenny Wilkens Way). Fisher Pavilion will open each day at 12:30 AM for anyone who arrives early. Tickets will be distributed starting at 5:30 AM in line order (only one ticket per person). Tickets are limited to how many patients we can see that day. We will admit people in numerical order into the Clinic starting at 6:30 AM. It may take several hours to get everyone with a ticket admitted into the Clinic.

While we have no way of knowing exactly what time we will run out of tickets for a given service, we try to frequently update our social media pages once ticket distribution has begun. You can access our Facebook page for the most updated posts.

Yes, chairs are available, and the line is inside Fisher Pavilion.

Yes, there will be security personnel patrolling Fisher Pavilion and its perimeter. It is well-lighted, heated and includes bathrooms.

We know it is difficult for many people, in all types of circumstances, to get in line early in the morning, but we only have the one admission process. You may send someone to stand in line for you to get a ticket (but they will only be able to get one ticket, not one for you and one for themself), but you must be present and be in possession of that ticket when the ticket number is called to be admitted to the Clinic. Your arrangement with this person is your responsibility, so be sure that you have a good way of communicating with them. We have no way of estimating when the number will be called; it may take up to 4 hours to call all the numbers and admit people into the building. Volunteers at the Clinic will not be able to track this person down or hold a place for you.

• Before being given an admission ticket you will be asked what type(s) of care you are seeking. You can choose dental and medical care OR vision and medical care OR just one type of care in a single day. You cannot seek dental and vision care in the same day.
• Once you have your ticket, you can wait in Fisher Pavilion until it’s close to the time for your admission to the Clinic, or you may leave the area and come back.
• Beginning at 6:30 AM, numbers will be called in groups in Fisher Pavilion and you will be escorted to the Clinic. You cannot enter until your number is called; it may take 3 or 4 hours for all numbers to be called.
• First, you’ll go to registration where, to start your Clinic healthcare record, a volunteer will ask your name, age, and a mailing address where we can send lab results and/or completed eyeglasses.
• After registration, you will meet with a healthcare professional. The healthcare professional will take your blood pressure, temperature, and medical history. Your blood pressure and glucose must be within certain limits for you to receive dental care. This is for your safety. DO NOT fast for lab tests.
• Clinic staff will give you paperwork for the areas (dental, medical or vision) you can visit today. You can choose which of these you want to go to first.
• At the start of each area (dental, medical or vision), you’ll meet with a healthcare professional. That person will determine your treatment plan based on your most critical needs and the availability of services. You may not get all the services that you want or that are offered if many people need the same service. You can come back on another day to try to get additional services, but you must start the process over again by waiting in line to get a ticket.
• For each service, you will get in line and be seen on a first-come, first-served basis (it is not based on your original admission number).
• Before leaving a care area (dental, medical or vision), stop at the Checkout Station to turn in your healthcare record for that area.
• Then you can go to your second authorized area, if time allows.
• Vision patients will be able to return on a specified date to pick up their prescription eyeglasses or have their prescription eyeglasses mailed to them.
• You can speak with Social Workers to learn about local services and resources. You can also speak with professionals to understand your health insurance options.

If it’s within one hour of when your ticket number was originally called, you will still be admitted. If it’s more than one hour since your ticket number was called, you may not be admitted.

It depends. If you have one of the last tickets and the process is moving more slowly than anticipated, there is a chance we might not be able to complete your service that day. If a healthcare professional has authorized a specific service and we can’t treat you that day, you will be scheduled to finish your authorized service on another day.

Unfortunately, the number of patients we can admit is limited and every person in line may not get a ticket. You can come back the next day to try again.

Patients may seek dental and medical care OR vision and medical care OR just one type of care in a single day. Patients cannot seek dental and vision care in the same day.

Due to limited time and high demand, patients may not get all of the treatments offered in a single care area (dental, medical, or vision). A treatment plan will be determined by a healthcare professional based on the patient’s most critical needs and the availability of services. Patients can come back on another day to try to get additional services, but they must start the process all over again by waiting in line to get a ticket.

• DENTAL: Treatment for pain or discomfort, known or suspected cavities, swollen gums, broken teeth.
• MEDICAL: Primary care, x-rays, mammograms, ultrasounds, select lab tests, immunizations, foot care, dermatology, physical and occupational (hand/wrist/elbow) therapy, acupuncture, nutrition, behavioral health, and more.
• VISION: Vision screenings, complete eye exams, reading glasses, and prescription eyeglasses. Bring an official printed prescription (less than two years old) to skip the exam and just get eyeglasses. Patients will be able to return on a specified date to pick up their prescription eyeglasses or have their prescription eyeglasses mailed to them.
• RESOURCES: Social work, help with health insurance, and more.

Any patient under age 18 must have a parent or legal guardian with them during registration and services. Exceptions may be made under the Mature Minors Doctrine for youth ages 13 and above who are not in contact with a parent or legal guardian.

• DENTAL: Bridges, complex extractions including wisdom teeth, dentures, implants, orthodontics, root canals on molars, sedation, teeth whitening
• MEDICAL: Biopsies, casts, CT scans, stitches/sutures, immunizations for children under 18 years of age, MRIs, new prescriptions for behavioral health medications
• VISION: Contact lenses, sunglasses
• Opioids or opioid prescriptions

A licensed healthcare provider may issue a prescription if a patient’s condition warrants it. Most likely these are for immediate needs, not long-term treatment. Prescriptions for opioids will not be issued. Medications are not dispensed onsite. No opioids are onsite.

Yes, we do treat children, but we cannot guarantee they’ll be seen by a pediatric specialist.

If a provider from the Clinic recommends that you seek follow-up care for a specific treatment or service, social workers and other resource professionals will help you to identify places you can go for care. It is your responsibility to schedule any follow-up appointments. Also, the Clinic is not responsible for any fees or issues related to care that you seek outside of the Clinic.

For health and sanitation reasons, only trained service animals will be allowed in the Clinic.

Please come prepared with food, water, and any medications you need to take during the day. Once you are admitted to the Clinic, you will be able to leave and re-enter throughout the day if you need to get food or medications, but If you are in line for service and you leave your place for a long time, you will lose your place in line and will need to go to the end of the line when you return. If you have a companion with you, it is suggested that they leave to pick up food or other items you may need so that you can keep your place in line.

Be prepared for a long day. Your comfort is your responsibility. We suggest you bring plenty of food and water, any medications you require, warm and comfortable clothing, and some kind of entertainment (books, magazines, etc.). You do not need ID or documentation of any type for the Clinic. No illegal drugs, alcohol, or weapons are allowed onsite.

Yes, once you are admitted to the Clinic and have appropriate Clinic identification, you will be able to leave and re-enter throughout the day. But if you are in line for a particular care area or service and you leave for a long period of time, you will lose your place and will need to go to the end of the line for that care area or service when you return. If you have a companion with you, we suggest that they leave to pick up food or other items you may need so that you can keep your place in line.

Yes, guests must initially enter the Clinic at the same time as the patient they are accompanying in order to receive appropriate Clinic identification. After that, guests will be able to leave and re-enter the Clinic throughout the day but will not be able to receive Clinic healthcare services.

Yes. When you arrive in line at Fisher Pavilion, there will be a bag check for larger items that you may not want to carry with you all day such as sleeping bags, carts, or other heavy or cumbersome items. Please keep anything with you that you will need throughout the day such as food, water, or extra layers of clothing.

Transportation is not provided, but more information on how to get to Seattle Center using public transportation is available at seattlecenter.com/visitor-info/getting-here. Patient parking is provided for free in the Mercer Street Garage (650 3rd Ave North).

No. You can bring children with you, even if they are not seeking services, but their care is your responsibility. Please plan for how to pass the time with them and make sure you have food and activities to keep them satisfied.

Yes.

The information below addresses the most common concerns related to immigration status and the Clinic:

• Patients DO NOT need ID or proof of immigration status to seek care at the Clinic.
• The Clinic does not ask about immigration status.
• Private information, including patient records, is not shared without patient consent, unless required by law.
• The three facilities where clinical care is provided are designated non-public areas. Credentials are required for entry. Immigrations enforcement would need a valid judicial warrant signed by a judge to enter.
• The Clinic does not receive federal funding and clinic services are free to all patients. Therefore, services patients receive at the clinic are not considered a “public benefit” as it relates to immigration status.
• In Washington, state and local law enforcement agencies, including Seattle Police Department, do not have the authority to enforce immigration laws. Immigration law enforcement is exclusively a federal function.

As more details about immigration policies, practices, and their relation to Seattle/King County Clinic become available, updates will be posted here.

Yes. While health insurance is not needed to be treated at the Clinic, we will have people who are able to assist you in learning more about your health insurance options and to help get you enrolled.

No. However, if you bring an official printed prescription for eyeglasses that is less than 2 years old, you can skip the eye exam and go straight to the optical section to choose your eyeglasses.

Visit seattlecenter.org/patients to download the request form. Complete and submit the form according to the instructions provided.

Yes, please go to seattlecenter.org/patients to find lists of other healthcare resources by county in Washington State.

The Clinic makes every effort to accommodate people with disabilities. The following details outline the most common accommodations that are utilized as well as barriers that may be encountered. Clinical and non-clinical volunteers have a mix of experience involving people with disabilities. We offer just-in-time training; however, with so many volunteers, we cannot be certain that all of them have an equal level of competency. If you have additional questions, please contact [email protected] or 206-615-1835.

Patients are welcome and encouraged to bring a guest/person who can support their needs throughout the Clinic, especially if there is doubt whether the Clinic can provide it.

Interpretation services are available throughout the Clinic. If a medically certified interpreter is not available onsite, we utilize AMN Healthcare Language Services’ remote interpretation devices. We offer ASL interpretation. Tactile interpretation is not something we can guarantee, as very few (if any) tactile interpreters volunteer at the Clinic.

Printed signs, reference sheets, and informational materials are used throughout the Clinic to assist patients with hearing disabilities. Two hearing loops are also available upon request.

Volunteers complete most required forms and can assist patients with visual disabilities by reading information aloud, filling in other requested details, and identifying where a patient signature may be required. In Fisher Pavilion, announcements are made over a speaker system to inform patients about the ticket distribution process and when ticket numbers are being called.

Quiet areas are available upon request in McCaw Hall and the Exhibition Hall for people with sensory disabilities.

Seattle Center and its facilities are ADA accessible, and volunteers have been informed about accessible pathways to use with patients.

The Clinic provides escorts to help patients get from location to location throughout the Clinic. Seating is available in each location. Wheelchairs (regular and bariatric) are available to assist in this transport process, if needed, but are not for the patient to remain in all day. Escorts are given just-in-time training on how to safely work with wheelchairs.

Some procedures may require people in wheelchairs to leave the chair to be treated. Because they are not trained, volunteers are not allowed to physically lift patients in or out of a chair, exam table/chair, or wheelchair. We do not have lifts available.

• Mammograms are performed in a van that is not wheelchair accessible and requires using a few stairs.
• The ability to have an x-ray or ultrasound while in a wheelchair depends on the body part requiring the image.
• If patients are not able to transfer from their wheelchair to a reclinable dental chair, some services may be limited. We do everything possible to treat the person in their wheelchair, however whether that can physically be accomplished is dependent upon the extent and location of the dental needs.