Thoughts on Pastoral Care
by Fr. Rodney Torbic
Adult Class - July 8/21, 2005
· The hospital environment a patient must adapt to.
· The reaction of families members to seeing a loved one in the hospital.
· The change in family life at home while a loved one is hospitalized.
· The additional financial burden on the family while a loved one is ill or injured.
· The stress caused in the family due to illness or injury.
· The disruption of family plans and goals due to change in health of a loved one.
· The distance between the hospital and the patient's home.
· The different daily routine a patient must adapt to in the hospital.
· The different food a patient must adapt to in the hospital.
· The loss of privacy a patient incurs when hospitalized.
· The loss of control a patient endures when hospitalized.
· The absence of personal possessions in a hospital.
· The effect of seeing people in uniforms everywhere in the hospital.
· The technical nature of medical terminology as it affects the patient's family.
· The many different professions involved in medical care.
· Sorting out the differences between nurse practitioner, nurse, practical nurse,
health care aid, doctor's assistance, dietician, social worker, psychiatrist, psychologist,
chaplain, pastoral care assistant, x-ray technician. lab technician
· Understanding ICU, CCU, CPR, LPN, RN, NP, No Code. Code Red... .
· Viewing the hospital room from the perspective of the patient.
· Being hooked to an I-V unit all day and night.
· Living in a room with another patient not of your choosing.
· Having people enter and leave your room at will.
· Being poked with needles by people you never met.
· Being physically examined by people you never met.
· Having people read your medical history and not knowing who they are.
· Being Orthodox in a non-Orthodox environment.
· Having people treat you who do not know what an Orthodox Christian is.
· Missing church because you are hospitalized.
· Knowing that your illness puts a burden on your loved ones.
· Facing an uncertain future due to a serious illness, disease or accident.
· Regretting not having done certain things differently.
· Planning a radical change in lifestyle due to illness or injury.
· Knowing that God is always available even in the worst of circumstances.
· Being the recipient of good care in the hospital.
· Being the recipient of Christian love from family, friends and unexpected individuals.