Pastoral Care Services at MedWest-Haywood

Being in the hospital can be a different kind of experience for many people. We want you know that our Chaplain and Chaplain Volunteers are available to provide presence and support for you and your family during your hospital stay.  

Our Chaplains and volunteers are trained to respect the religious commitments of all of our patients and their families and will not impose any particular beliefs or values on you. We serve patients and families of all faiths, as well as those who do not identify with any particular religion. Our chaplains will be respectful and supportive of your personal faith, values and beliefs.

Chaplains are available to assist you with a variety of spiritual and emotional needs such as, coping with the stress of illness and hospitalization; discussing difficult decisions; dealing with difficult news; easing the loneliness and isolation of a hospital stay; offering religious rituals, including sacraments, scripture readings, and prayer; contacting a faith representative of your own religious tradition; or when you just need someone to listen.

Liaison with Church or Pastor

Patients are encouraged to be in contact with their minister or church while in the hospital. A Chaplain will assist in making the contact if needed. They also assist in locating a minister of the patient's choice if desired. Often the Chaplain can serve as an important link between church and hospital. The visits of local clergy persons are encouraged. Pastors may register with the Chaplains office for a visitor identification badge.

Religious Materials:

Patients are encouraged to bring their own Bible. However Gideon Bibles are available in our patients rooms, other versions and large print editions are available by request from the chaplain or in our Chapel on the second floor.  Other devotional books and inspirational materials are also available.
Spiritual Resources Available:

• The Chapel  is  “A place of prayer for all people”
• Care Notes
• Guideposts
• Scriptures or Devotional Materials

How to call a chaplain:

You may ask your nurse or a staff person to contact the chaplain for you
Dial  the switchboard  “0” and ask for the chaplain or chaplain on call 

Support of the Program:

You may join others in supporting the program by your prayers and a gift to MedWest Foundation earmarked for the Chaplaincy Fund.

Partners with Clergy

At MedWest, our Pastoral Care staff values our relationships with area clergy. We believe it takes all of us working together to provide truly meaningful spiritual care. If you are a member of the clergy, we hope you will consider us to be partners in ministry--as well as a valuable resource.
We are glad to help clergy members locate patients. We can also contact your church when a member is hospitalized. And if you are unable to visit your members or parishioners, let us know; we'll be glad to fill in till you arrive.  Registering with Pastoral Care offers several important benefits, including: 

• A Clergy Visitor ID Badge 
• Instruction about confidentiality and patient policies 
• Initiate a supportive relationship with the Chaplains Office