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Volunteers share role at Children’s Hospital by Cindy Abole Public Relations Imagine the stress and anxiety felt by parents and family members who arrive at a hospital seeking information regarding their child following a serious emergency.   To many, the concrete, glass and steel structure can seem cold and uninviting. At MUSC Children’s Hospital, families and visitors are welcomed and attended to with the same level of compassionate, coordinated care that patients receive.     Children's Hospital volunteer Madeline Mills, standing, and Nancy Wood discuss volunteer assignments at the new first floor CH information desk. “Volunteers play a huge role,” said Christine Messick, Children’s Hospital volunteer coordinator. “Their tireless dedication, willingness and creative energy contributes to creating the comfortable, nurturing care environment that we maintain everyday.”      Messick manages more than 130 community volunteers and two part-time staff members committed to providing volunteer support and services throughout the state's largest, most comprehensive pediatric heath care center. Located in the first floor lobby at the new Children’s Hospital information desk, the Office of Volunteer and Community Services is responsible for recruiting, training and preparing its own volunteers.      Since its establishment in 1987, MUSC Children’s Hospital volunteers have strived alongside pediatric specialists and  clinical care staff to provide excellence in patient care within a whole-child approach and family-centered environment. Just as the mission and goals for the Children’s Hospital have evolved and improved through the years, so have the roles of its volunteer staff.   Today, volunteers share in active, expanded jobs that go beyond companionship and play. Volunteers actively contribute ideas, share talents and provide services and maintain programs that otherwise might not exist if not for the presence of volunteers, said  John Sanders, Children’s Hospital administrator.      Volunteers Rickie Watkins, back, and Samantha Walton deliver coffee to patient's families. “We provide a service that’s uniquely for and about children,” said Sanders. “What we’ve learned is the ability to recognize the many diverse talents of people in the community and what they can bring  to our pediatric patients, their families and staff. To us, volunteers enhance the many hospital services and programs that we provide. This level of interaction, commitment and partnership is what we’d like to see more of at MUSC Children’s Hospital.”      Children’s Hospital volunteers must be at least 16 years old and complete a four-page application and extensive interview process. Candidates must complete a three-hour orientation to qualify for work in any of the volunteer roles throughout the hospital. Volunteers help staff within inpatient care areas from assisting children during meals to holding and soothing small infants. They also support guest relations activities, from greeting patients and families at the first-floor information desk to providing administrative assistance through filing, copying and data entry.   “Having volunteers present who can greet people and empathize with parents and family members by responding appropriately to their needs is a vital role within our center,” Sanders said.   Newer programs and services continue to tap the talents of the volunteer staff. The Reach Out and Read (ROAR) is a successful program that stems from a seven-year partnership with multiple MUSC departments, the Children’s Hospital Child Life Department and Trident Literacy Association. ROAR instills the value of reading among families. Volunteers help distribute new books to parents and assist them with literacy activities to share with their child.      On their own, volunteers are also successful organizing special projects for themselves such as painting the colorful murals in patient care areas, most recently in the pediatric neuro-orthopaedics area.  This Christmas, volunteer and first-year College of Nursing student Michelle Mills helped coordinate the Tender Teddy’s Project and Holiday Social which helped raise money to provide teddy bears to every hospitalized pediatric patient during Christmas. Working with other volunteers, Mills also organized a Dec. 17 holiday social for pediatric patients and their parents scheduled to spend the holidays at MUSC.   Other volunteers give their time sharing   their own experiences through a newly-formed Children’s Hospital Family Advisory Council. The group is composed of of area volunteers whose child was/is a Children's Hospital patient. They meet regularly to discuss issues and offer guidance on patient or family-related topics.      “Our volunteers share a commitment to their role  that helps build special relationships that have the ability to change people's lives,” Messick said.   “The Children’s Hospital is where many people ‘want’ to volunteer. The impact of this act of love improves the stay of parents and their children, providing directions, helping with grandparenting and patient care through therapy dogs and many therapeutic smiles,” said L. Lyndon Key, M.D., chairman of Pediatrics.   With the growth and popularity of community volunteering, both Messick and Sanders would like to see the roster of Children’s Hospital volunteers double within the next decade. For now, they both agree that there’s no better time than the present to become a volunteer.      “We realize that it’s a transitional time for everyone,” Sanders said. “There’s changes for our staff to see what our volunteers can actually take on and do. It’s an exciting time to see how our volunteers are more involved in the day-to-day activities of our pediatric units and outpatient care areas.  Each day they’re making a difference in the way our patients are cared for and how they are treated.”      For information on Children’s Hospital volunteers, contact Messick at 792-3120 or download a volunteer application at http://www.musckids.com/mad/volunteer.htm.     Friday, Jan. 13, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778, ext. 201.