Today the full-time staff members of the Pastoral Care Departments met to continue to learn how each of our three hospitals delivers pastoral care within each health system.  We discovered that we share the same goal in regard to patient care.  We discovered that we have different ways that we are able to use patient data as we document our ministry.  We also discovered that each hospital has a strong emphasis on improving community health and reducing the need for frequent readmissions.

Poverty is one of the main engines that create the need for readmissions.  If you have limited funds and are given a prescription, you often don’t get it filled.  If it is not filled you are not taking the medicine and there can be no realistic expectation of healing.  Our dialogue is just beginning and I am excited about learning about the similarities and differences that reflect the delivery of pastoral care in each hospital setting.

On Friday I will be engaging in a conversation with other chaplains about what our Pastoral Care Department does and which of the things we do I have responsibility for making sure they happen.  Like the author in the image above I started with a blank sheet of paper.  I made three headings on my list:

• Clinical Assignments
• Health System-wide Administrative Duties (This consists of committees I serve on)
• Departmental Administrative Duties

Once I had my headings I went through the two drawers of my desk and looked the hanging files in them to see which files represented items that belong on the list.  I had to it this way because just writing a list of what I do seemed mentally overwhelming to me at the time.  It was actually an efficient idea, because anything I do has some sort of paper trail.  I was able to copy some papers to take to the meeting to illustrate items on my list.

I offer this illustration to you.  Look at the names on the file folders in your desk and list the name of things that would fit on a list of what you do.  I feel you will be affirmed that you make a variety of contributions within your employment setting that do not come to mind instantly.  Everyone no matter what their task needs to know their presence and efforts are of value both to the employer and to those who are ultimately served.

In my work with patients and their families who are home Hospice I hear a lot of people say that they feel isolated from their friends.  When I ask what their friends could do that would be most helpful in cutting through that feeling of isolation the most frequent reply is: “SEND A CARD OR A LETTER”.

This advice may seem outdated in our world of modern methods of communication so let me explain why cards or letters are preferred in many cases:

• A card or letter can be dealt with as the patient or caregiver has time or energy.
• A postal message is more helpful than an email message because many times the patient can’t easily view a computer screen but they can hold a card.
• Phone calls sometimes come in busy moments; one example of this is if the patient needs help with toileting. Calls at this time are either very short or go to voice mail.  A voice mail creates another task for a caregiver who may already feel overwhelmed and exhausted.
• A patient has the energy to read a lot more cards than see visitors.
• Visitors are sometimes discouraged for infection control reasons.

Please take this posting as an encouragement today to send a card or letter to someone you love who is ill.   The will appreciate the card and the person who sends it!

Ebola is a word that makes us sit up and take notice when we hear it.  The reason why is simple: we know it is a disease that kills.  Hospitals throughout the nation have been preparing for the possible event of having a patient with Ebola at their hospital.  Our hospital is no exception to this trend.  The people pictured above are health care workers in Africa dressed in protective attire.  Their clothing illustrates the best way to protect yourself from getting the disease: wearing clothing that will prevent the germs to spread from the patient to the person who is caring for them.

In some respects hospitals prepare for Ebola every day.  We have germ transmission prevention protocols that we put in place when patients have illnesses that spread through any form of contract.  We have different levels of precaution that are dependent on how the illness is spread.  Prevention protocol is designed to protect the health care worker, other patients, and visitors in the hospital.

Some people over the years have resisted some forms of isolation precautions because they are either time consuming or uncomfortable.  I am struck by the fact that failure to wear protective clothing not only puts you at risk, it puts others who have no idea you have been exposed to an identified danger at risk.  As a Chaplain, I probably won’t be in a room with an Ebola patient.  We are limiting the number of employees who can be in those rooms again to eliminate the possibility of transmission of the illness.  In thinking about the ramifications this has on my role in health care I have thought of these methods of providing pastoral care to the patient:

• Visiting from outside the room using a telephone where the patient can see me through the glass window.
• Sending in devotional material with staff that are authorized to enter the room.
• Engaging staff who work on the unit where the patient is located to address their emotions to this unusual reality should it take place.

I am sure if we have an Ebola patient more opportunities will come to mind as the situation develops.  I am glad that before such a patient arrives I already have a pastoral care plan in mind to bring them spiritual comfort during a very upsetting time in their lives.

Tonight we held one of three “Services of Remembrance” that hold each year at the hospital.  They are for families who have a patient died while under our care.  These services give family survivors a chance to receive a carnation and speak the name of their loved one and say a word or two about them.  It also includes songs and various readings and a meditation.  One of the songs we use is “The Wind Beneath My Wings”.  The image of the dove is one of the graphics that is displayed while the song is played.  I never tire of this image because it is an image that reminds me of hope and the fact we do not stand on our own, we stand on the love and support of God.

Following the service I was able to visit with some of those who attended.  Many commented that the messages of hope that the service contained were comforting to them.  That commentary sticks with me.  Messages of hope are powerful!  But sometimes we do not see them or do not take time to meditate on them to gain the richness of support they provide.  I encourage you today and each day, look for messages of hope!  When you find them cherish and remember them!  Even better, share that message with others!

I have recently been attending a different local congregation.   It is Centenary UMC on US Route 220 North in Cumberland.  The congregation and I have been in a process of getting to know each other.  One of the steps in that process was my delivering the sermon today.  I received a lot of favorable comments about the content of my message.  More affirming than those comments was the universal invitation that everyone made to me to continue attending the congregation’s worship services.

The picture of the building reminds me of one of the churches I served in my first full-time appointment.  The people also remind me of the members of that congregation because of their friendliness and outgoing nature.  Centenary has been diligent in maintaining their building which speaks both to these sense of dedication to stewardship of what they have received from past generations, and their desire to attract new members.  Both of these are healthy signs for any congregation!

I had a bonus today because my colleague and Pastoral Care Department Director attended the service as an expression of support.  That is something else I want to comment about for a moment.  Colleagues supporting colleagues in any setting is important.  We enjoy a lot of that at Western Maryland Health System, which is a very positive part of the organization’s DNA!

Thursday, October 23, 2014 was a sad day for south Cumberland as a house fire that started in the early morning hours claimed the lives of two young girls: Halaina Smith age 3, and Emily Edwards age 7.  No parent wants to lose any child they love to fire, but to lose two in the same fire at such young ages is a painful experience that I don’t have words to describe.

Tonight, Saturday, October 25, 2014 our community came together at 7 PM at the scene of the fire for a Candlelight Vigil.  The picture you see is the house where the fire took place as it was decorated with battery operated candles and tokens of remembrance for the two young girls.  You are able to see some of the participants holding candles.  This picture does not do justice to size of the assembled crowd.  Without counting I would say at least 100 people gathered.  The mother of the two girls was there and we were able to talk for a few moments following and exchange hugs.  She thanked me for all of the staff at the hospital who care for her and her family as they were being treated following their removal from the burning home.

The vigil tonight reminded me of this Bible verse:

The light keeps shining in the dark, and darkness has never put it out. John 1.5

Each of the girls Halaina and Emily had the light of God in them throughout their lives.  Now that they are no longer on earth, the light of God is in them now more powerfully than it was when they were on earth.  The scene of those gathered on the sidewalk and in the street with the candlelight reflecting in their faces was a sign of the goodness in our world that is represented in light.  My prayer is that the light of both Halaina and Emily shines brightly in the Heavenly realm until we are all able to see it.  I will continue to pray for the family survivors who are still trying to pick up the pieces of their lives and move forward.

One of my frustrations in life is when someone explains to me how they feel, then when I respond, they interrupt and tell me I am wrong even before I have finish my first sentence.  Occasionally I encounter people who are upset with something related to our health system.  I always ask them to tell me about it and listen intently to their description of the event or situation.  What frustrates me is after I have given them the respect of listening, they don’t even let me get five words out of my mouth before interrupting and telling me I am wrong or are just quoting the “party line” to defend the health system.  I am sure I am not the only person to ever be in this situation.

I do want to offer advice to anyone who wants to voice a complaint to someone.  After you describe the situation, be courteous enough to let them finish their response before you respond.  You will be taken more seriously by the person you are talking to if you treat them with the same respect they showed you.  It may also work out that there is another side to the situation than you are seeing.  For resolution of an issue to take place, both people in the conversation have to keep an open mind and show each other respect.  Try it next time and see if this approach is more satisfactory.  I think you will find it works well.

The picture above represents the outlook of our hospice program.  Each week the team meets to discuss our patients and their current needs and how we can best provide them.  We also build connections between members of the team.  This week for Pastoral Care Week the team had a Pastor Appreciation party for me as the pastor or chaplain to the program.  In addition to a lovely card that everyone signed I was given an olive wood box with the image of the Last Supper carved in it.  Inside the box was a gift card to one of my favorite restaurants and a book of humor.  The humor book was really appropriate because I am a frequent contributor of humor items for our daily employee newsletter.  We honor every clinical discipline during their designated week.  This week was my turn to be the celebrated recipient.  One of the best things about being on this team is that everyone cares for and respects all the other members of the team.  Knowing you have the support of your colleagues is very empowering as we work with situations where people are nearing death and suffering from serious illness.

This week is Pastoral Care Week.  The theme this year is Spiritual Well Being.  We have several activities taking place this week to mark the event.  So far my favorite event has been the Pastoral Care Banquet we hosted on October 20^th for our volunteer Chaplain Associates.  We had a full meal catered by the Dietary Department and then adjourned to the Hospital Chapel for a Service of Blessing the Hands.  I was thrilled to see the smiles on the faces of those who attended as volunteers and those who came as their invited guests.  It was obvious our volunteers were touched felt appreciated for the efforts they provide on a year-round basis.  I was glad to be part of an event where a heart-felt “thank you” was delivered and appreciated.  I hope that all the other pastoral care departments that are celebrating this week also have equally meaningful events in their institutions.