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.