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MeritCare Spiritual Care Services
Spiritual Care is available at MeritCare through our team of 4 professional Chaplains and specially trained Spiritual Care Visitors. We offer supportive spiritual care to all – respecting culture, beliefs and traditions – and we work closely with the interdisciplinary team caring for you and your family.
You may access a Chaplain 24 hours a day 7 days a week simply by dialing the operator and asking for the on-call Chaplain to be paged or making the request through your nurse. You may also call our office directly at 234-6980.
Of course the best person to have at your side seeing to your spiritual care is your own faith community leader. We encourage our patients to notify their faith community when they are hospitalized and we are happy to help make that connection when asked.
Even if you profess no formal faith tradition you may experience the need, while in the hospital, to talk over some issue that has presented itself – or share a scary diagnosis or discuss a few of life’s many questions. Chaplains are here to fill that role as well. Our Chaplains practice strict confidentiality and have no agenda other than to walk with you, as you need us through your time at MeritCare.
The Good Shepherd Chapel is on the lower level of the downtown hospital across from Mills Avenue Pharmacy. It is open to patients and families around the clock. We have scripture available as well as devotional material. The Healing Garden, off of the main North entrance to the downtown hospital, is another good place – in good weather – to experience some peace in the midst of it all! On the South campus you will find the chapel just off the main entrance to the left.
The key to receiving spiritual care at MeritCare is to ASK for what you need. We will do our best to fill that need.
The Christian sacraments are available to all. If you have listed Catholic as your religion you will receive a daily visit from a Eucharistic Minister. If you need to talk to a Priest, please ask your nurse to page the on-call Chaplain and we will get in touch with a Priest for you. Again – this service is available no matter the time.
Hope and help are available for all who pass through our doors! Please don’t hesitate to request spiritual care while you are here.