Spiritual Care

Mission and Goals
Mercy Medical Center is dedicated to caring not only for the physical, but also the spiritual needs of patients, family members, visitors, employees, physicians and the community.

The human person is by nature spiritual. Mercy Medical Center ’s Spiritual Care staff seeks to honor and facilitate the search for meaning and integrity in the experiences of life – including sickness, hospitalization, bereavement or death – by offering presence, compassion, listening, support and education.

Recognizing the individual’s right to self-determination, chaplains also act as patient advocates when this right is in question and will speak to staff on behalf of patients or about family concerns. Chaplains can also offer information on “advance directives” – medical power of attorney and living will documents.

Staff chaplains help support spiritual needs of patients and families
Chaplains are available to support your religious, spiritual and emotional needs during your hospitalization. Chaplains are respectful of your concerns and your views about what gives life value and meaning. Spiritual care can be provided if you have events in your life that interfere with your healing, such as a recent loss of a loved one or major life change.

Chaplains are part of your health care team
A visit from one of our chaplains may help you cope with the stress of being in the hospital and can help relieve anxiety. The Spiritual Care department’s professional chaplains are an integral part of the health care team and work in cooperation with other health care disciplines to offer holistic care to patients and families. Chaplains participate in Mercy’s Touch, Love and Compassion (TLC) program which offers other “healing experiences” such as massage or relaxing guided imagery. Chaplains attend patient care conferences to contribute to staff understanding of the spiritual needs of a patient or ethical implications of care plans.

Chaplains can provide spiritual resources
Chaplains honor your personal, spiritual or philosophical beliefs through prayer, blessing, or affirmation of closely held values. At your request, chaplains can contact your minister, priest, rabbi or spiritual leader to also support you.

Other Spiritual Care resources include:

• Catholic Mass in the Mercy Chapel Tuesdays at noon
• Sunday interdenominational prayer services from 9:30-9:45 a.m. in the Mercy Chapel
• Seasonal/special occasion services (announced in advance)
• Communion offered by Eucharistic ministers
• Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick (the hospital chaplain will request these rituals by an available Catholic priest)
• Rosaries available from chaplains
• Confidential prayer request box (chaplains pray daily for your concerns)
• Printed prayers available in the Mercy Chapel
• Helpful CareNotes booklets that discuss a variety of subjects relating
  to illness, hospitalization, bereavement and life transitions

Location
The Spiritual Care Department is located next to the chapel just inside the entrance of the front lobby.

Hours
Chaplains are on duty 8 am – 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Staff Chaplains
To reach the chaplain on call please dial 764-2340, or press "0" if you are dialing within the hospital.