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Program enlightens youths to health care by Chelsea Futterman Public Relations The term “candy striper” comes from the red and white striped pinafores that were traditionally worn by young, female hospital volunteers in the 1940s. Today, you may see the revived red and white striped uniforms on teenagers walking the halls of the medical center as part of the new MUSC Candy Stripe Program.   “The candy stripe uniform is really noticed by patients and visitors,” said Katy Kuder, Volunteer Services manager who oversees the program. “Employees, patients and visitors love the concept, and tell me so often.”   Candy stripe volunteers (from left) Kaitlyn Waiboer, 15, Afrika Palmer, 14, and Biana Gamble, 14, provide a needed break with the tea cart to registered nurse Jenny Peterson, 7W, orthopaedics/trauma. But the program, which began in February, is much more than uniforms, and it’s not just for girls anymore. It's about recruiting young people into the heath care field.   “The goal of the program is to open the door of opportunity to the young people of our community to the possibility of a health care career,” Kuder said. “And it’s working.”   Shanica Bennett, a rising sophomore at Stratford High School who currently volunteers at the hospital, is considering a career in medicine. “I hope this volunteer experience will help me decide,” Bennett said.   Another volunteer is Mira Patel, daughter of Sunil Patel, M.D., clinical chair of MUSC’s Department of Neurosciences. Mira, 15, was one of the first candy stripers who began volunteering last February. She expressed interest in becoming a pediatrician and chose to volunteer for the experience in health care. She is still with the program and volunteers each weekday for four to five hours a day. When she turns 16, she plans on volunteering in the Children’s Hospital.   The Candy Stripe Program at MUSC began as an after-school project in partnership with Ashley Hall, a private girl’s school located nearby from which 20 girls began volunteering in mid-February. Now, the program is in full swing and includes more area schools with two four-week  summer sessions. Close to 80 girls and boys ages 14-18 have participated in the summer sessions. Many of the participants also earn community service credits required for graduation.   Volunteer Services manager Katy Kuder walks candy stripe volunteers to their department orientations. Thirty-four students representing 15 different high schools participated in the first session, June 18 to July 13. For the second session, which began July 23 and ends Aug. 17, 49 students signed up, seven of whom are returning students from the previous session.   Gina Sciarro, program coordinator, said the program has done exceptionally well. For the month of June, MUSC volunteers contributed more than 3,177 hours of volunteer time, she said.   “Compared to last year in June when we only had about 1,982 hours, this is very impressive,” said Sciarro, who expects volunteers will have worked even more hours in July and August. Sciarro already is planning to add another session for next summer.   Each department has established job descriptions for the candy stripers, which provide a variety of insight for them into health care; administrative and clinical.   “We get great feedback from the departments,” Sciarro said. “The representatives, who orient the candy stripers, are really appreciative and they make the students feel very welcome.”   The tea cart is a favorite among employees and regularly goes to all nursing units in the main hospital serving the staff tea, coffee and treats.   “I loved how when I served tea everyone was so happy to see me,” said Mira, who is a sophomore at Ashley Hall. “They would say I brighten up their day.”   Antoinette Bowman, Mail Services administrative assistant in the Institute of Psychiatry, shows candy stripe volunteer, Leah Snipe, 15, what to do with received packages and how to locate where they need to go. The candy stripers come in twice a week for eight hours each day. They get to choose their two days and what assignments they want. The list of available job assignments and departments include cafeteria dietary hostess, patient transporter, Institute of Psychiatry mailroom assistant, central supply, Storm Eye Institute clinical flow assistant, Infection Control and Rutledge Tower Radiology, and the tea cart.   The program requires students to attend orientation before they start volunteering. The orientation lasts an hour, during which time Kuder reviews the rules and responsibilities of working in a hospital.   “I emphasize the importance of completing each assignment, leaving a good impression with patients and families, and being flexible and accommodating,” Kuder said. In addition to the orientation, students must also complete the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) training program and receive a tuberculosis skin test just as all other MUSC employees do.   The Candy Stripe Program is somewhat of a revival of MUSC's previous Teen Volunteer Program, which required a commitment of 40 hours during a calendar year. Under that program, teens held the same types of volunteer positions as their adult counterparts. Because it lacked clear guidelines for the younger volunteers, it was canceled three years ago. Kuder and Sciarro reviewed programs used at other hospitals inside and outside of South Carolina and used the best practices at each for the new MUSC program.     Friday, Aug. 3, 2007 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 Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.