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Sometimes the needs of our patients go beyond that of clinical support. For this reason our pastoral services department is staffed with chaplains. A chaplain is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to address spiritual and emotional needs of our patients and their families. This includes assisting to ease anxieties and concerns, communicating with the patient's pastor or church, and maintaining regular contact with the patient and family before, during, and after surgery or other procedure. Chaplains make contact with heart surgery and other cardiac patients upon assessment and/or nursing referral.
During pastoral care visits, the chaplain meets with the patient and family and provides support and encouragement. The chaplain can assist the patient and family in viewing their faith as a resource to help them through the experience.
The chaplains ascertain any affiliation the patient and family may have with a pastor or church. The chaplains will ask for permission to contact the pastor or church. Many people find additional comfort and strength in the support of their pastor and congregation. If that permission is given, the chaplain will contact the patient's pastor or church.
The time that is spent waiting during surgery can be a time of great anxiety for family members. Regular contact with the family during this time by the chaplain has been found to be very beneficial in helping to reduce anxieties, keep family informed of progress, and if necessary, prepare the family if the patient is not doing well. The chaplain can accompany the patient and the family to surgery and help the family as they move to the surgery waiting room. After the surgery is complete, the chaplain can accompany the family to the consultation room to meet with the surgeon. The chaplain can then assist the family is relocating to the CCU waiting area and later help in getting the family in to see the patient.
Pastoral services also operates the Samaritan Counseling Center which offers counseling and support services for patients and families. This service can be accessed once the patient is discharged from the hospital. Many insurances will cover the cost of such counseling. For those that do not, a self-pay system is available based upon income. | |
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