Pastoral & Spiritual Care at Henry Medical Center

Patients and their loved ones have different emotional and spiritual responses when hospital care is required – whether for surgery, trauma, treatment or giving birth. For many people, religious faith or practice help them cope with health problems and related issues. The Chaplain can offer compassionate support by providing prayer and pastoral conversation, discussing problems and sharing difficult decisions.

The Department of Pastoral Care is committed to providing Spiritual Care and emotional support to patients, their family members, as well as hospital employees and volunteers. We accept, affirm and respect all faith traditions and spiritual practices that are based on common fundamental human rights of life, freedom, justice and mutual regard. Our goal is to support and encourage through our presence, by listening to and taking seriously the concerns of those we minister to, and by offering religious ritual and prayer based upon ones personal belief system.

Our Pastoral Care Department is comprised of an on-staff chaplain who can respond to the needs of various faith traditions. We also have an extensive overall volunteer Chaplains program. Our Chaplains serve as members of the healthcare team working closely with nurses, physicians, social workers and others for you and your family.

Chaplaincy Services

Chaplaincy services include emergency and referral-based spiritual care for patients of all ages and their families and to all staff members. Emergency coverage is available 24 Hours a day, 7 days a week. Situations for which Chaplains are called include:

• Patients/families in spiritual distress
• At time of diagnosis
• At time of making care decisions
• At time of celebration and recovery
• When goals of care change (e.g., curative to palliative)
• At times of dying/death/high risk of death
  

Chaplaincy services are offered in response to spiritual needs such as hope, trust, forgiveness, and meaning, as well as to religious ritual. Through religious or secular methods, the Chaplain encourages patients to draw on their spiritual strengths to cope with whatever circumstances they face.

Contact Pastoral Care

You may arrange to be visited by a Chaplain prior to or during your admission. From outside the hospital dial (678) 604-1054. If you are a hospital patient, simply dial 1054 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. You may reach a Chaplain at other times by dialing "0" and asking the operator to contact the on-call Chaplain. You may also ask your nurse to contact a Chaplain for you.

Henry Medical Center Chapel

"Whoever Will, May Enter Here"
The Henry Medical Center Chapel is open at all times for everyone – all patients, personnel and relatives – regardless of religion. Cards located on the front table of the chapel are provided for you to record a concern, prayer request, or celebration so that others may share your burdens and joys. In many ways, these cards are a record of the spiritual life that flows through every aspect of Henry Medical Center.