Hospital volunteers photograph new arrivals

CHRIS PAGANO * cpagano@semissourian.com

Auxiliary Receives Further Training in Baby Photography

This group of serious-minded Auxiliary volunteers at Southeast Missouri Hospital work as a team to make parents happy. They record history digitally--baby's first portraits. The hospital, one of two nationwide, is proud to be able to rely on loyal volunteers to provide this very important service. Seated from left, are, Shirley Estes, Jeanne Poe, Harry La Far, Dixie Crites; standing, from left, Gail Granmer, Carol Kraemer, Diane Brown, Sarah McGowan, Marge Sullivan director of volunteer services, Sandra Shandy, Barbara Campbell and Sue Balsamo. Volunteers unavailable for photo were Jerry Cummins, Mary Hudson, June Hargrove and Diana Kelley.By Chris Pagano ~ Southeast Missourian

Prior to August 2002, Southeast Missouri Hospital relied on its obstetric nursing unit to photograph the community's newest arrivals. With the advent of the new obstetrics unit opening a year ago, auxiliary volunteers have taken on the job of baby photographers.

"Nurses need and want to be able to give their time and attention to patients," said Marge Sullivan, director of volunteer services. She said that nurses will take photographs "when discharges are at odd hours."

In addition to a volunteer staff of 14 trained baby photographers, there are three substitutes. Paired volunteers work together using skills as efficiently as possible.

Sullivan said she is proud of the group. They received a week and a half of training at six hours per day. The rest was worked out through trial and error. Duties include baby skills, setting up the photo opportunity technical aspects of inputting computer data and transmitting to Growing Family, the company that processes the photos.

"Keeping them centered is the hardest part of getting a good photograph. Babies like to turn their heads," said Dixie Crites, auxiliary volunteer.

"This is such a happy place," Crites said.

'Glowing faces'

The auxiliary receives commission to take baby portraits but they don't push sales.

"Families love having the volunteers come in and admire their little ones and the volunteers have absolutely glowing faces after completing assignments," Sullivan said.

To assure that opportunities are not overlooked, the auxiliary makes a point to inform families that this is history and it's not going to happen again.

Parents receive a free proof sheet and have their photos on file for one year.

New volunteer recruit Gail Cranmer said she wanted to get out and be around people. "We just sold our business and I wanted to help people," she said.

Cranmer originally worked in hospitality and, when asked to fill this position, she agreed. As a former third-grade teacher and dedicated scrapbooker, Cranmer feels her skills and experience will be put to good use in this task.

Southeast Missouri Hospital is just one of two hospitals in the nation to train and use its volunteer force to take photos of infants.

"We have paid employees who don't demonstrate the dedication this hospital does,"said Growing Family representative Ruth Brooke. "My applause goes out to this group. It takes teamwork."

Brooke led a refresher course at the hospital recently to answer questions and reassure volunteers that technical problems they've been having are being addressed. The volunteers shared problems and learned how to troubleshoot some common difficulties. They also gleaned information from Brooke in an effort to perform their jobs better.

"Making our parents happy is the number one goal," said Sullivan.

New to the photo service via Growing Family will be the availability of classic black-and-white portraits as well as color.

"The excitement of this addition is unbelievable," said Brooke.