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.