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Fulfilling Our Mission In keeping with the three-fold ministry of Christ - healing, preaching and teaching - Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto is committed to providing quality health care. Because we believe in the total care of patients, our pastoral care department concentrates on the spiritual needs of our patients. The chaplains at Baptist DeSoto provide pastoral care for the religious, spiritual and emotional needs of patients and their families in the face of a new diagnosis; when dealing with the unknown; and in anticipation of death, grief and loss. At times, the hospital staff chaplains serve as facilitators of communication among the patient, family, hospital staff and physicians. Chaplains are available around the clock to provide compassionate care, comfort, and support through listening, prayer and scripture reading and to explore bioethical issues.  Our Chaplains: Comfort, Care and Compassion When You Need it Most Baptist DeSoto chaplains provide spiritual care, comfort and support for patients and families. They serve as resources to hospitalized patients and their families by helping them find the strength to deal with natural fears, worries, doubts and questions that may arise in the face of illness. Baptist DeSoto full-time staff chaplains must:
 Top of PagePastoral Care for Patients and Families The hospital staff chaplains are available to respond to requests for pastoral care from patients, family members, staff and/or physicians. Chaplains make daily visits to newly admitted patients, promptly follow up on referrals from the nursing staff, and respond to all "Code Blue" events and deaths. The pastoral care staff is committed to being consistent, available, and accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond promptly and efficiently with compassionate care, especially in times of crisis and at the time of death. Chaplains are available to provide the following pastoral care services:
Top of PageContacting the Pastoral Care Staff You may call the pastoral care office Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at 662-772-4251 and leave a voicemail message if no one is available to take your call. In the evenings and on weekends, your nurse and/or nursing house supervisor can reach the chaplain on call by paging 901-227-7243, pager #0345. Nursing house supervisors, operators and security have access to the monthly chaplain on-call schedule with all appropriate phone numbers for reference. A chaplain is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to serve you. Top of PageVolunteer Chaplains and On-call Coverage Baptist DeSoto patients and families are served around the clock by two full-time staff chaplains and volunteer chaplains on call after hours (5:00 p.m. - 8:00 a.m.) and on weekends. Volunteer chaplains, led by the staff chaplains, meet on the second Wednesday of every month at noon for lunch, continuing education and training. Local clergy who may wish to know more about the volunteer program should contact the director of pastoral care at 662-772-4258. Volunteer chaplains need to be close enough to be able to reach the hospital within 30 minutes. Top of PageChapel Services and Special Worship Observances Baptist DeSoto provides daily chapel services Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m. for patients, families and staff. The staff and volunteer chaplains conduct these daily prayer services, which usually last approximately 15-20 minutes. Chapel services are also broadcast live internally on hospital channel 7. Special holiday/worship observances are coordinated by the pastoral care staff chaplains for the following:
The chapel is located across from the cafeteria and right down from the gift shop on the second floor and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All are welcome. We invite you to visit, reflect, and feel at peace in this space devoted to spiritual healing for people of all faiths. Top of PageAdvance Directives (Living Wills) As a courtesy, Baptist DeSoto's pastoral care and palliative care departments offer information and consultation regarding advance directives (such as living wills, durable powers of attorney for health care, and health care directives). Our staff will explain the use of these documents, how they differ, and answer questions. Anyone may request this service - you need not be a patient or family member. Advance directive forms are free of charge to the public. Upon request by an individual, Baptist DeSoto will keep a copy of advance directives in the patient record of anyone who has a medical record at this hospital. Top of PageEmployee Services Baptist DeSoto staff chaplains are available to hospital employees for emotional support, crisis intervention, and spiritual and religious consultation on a confidential basis. We lead staff devotionals and prayer times for departments as requested. The director of pastoral care leads the hospital's senior leadership, department directors and managers in devotionals and prayers at their scheduled meetings. Top of PageEmployee Emergency Assistance Program The pastoral care department facilitates the Employee Emergency Assistance Program funded by employees through the Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation. Anyone who has been employed with Baptist DeSoto for at least 90 days is eligible to apply. Financial assistance is awarded in any amount up to $500 per calendar year for any employee who qualifies. Applications may be obtained by contacting the pastoral care department. All applications are reviewed in a prompt and timely manner on a case-by-case basis by a team of hospital representatives. Top of PageFunerals, Memorial Services and Wedding Ceremonies The hospital staff chaplains are available, upon request, to conduct funeral services and wedding ceremonies. Top of PageEthics Committee Baptist DeSoto has an ethics committee that seeks to accomplish the following primary objectives:
The ethics committee is an interdisciplinary team representing the following areas: medical staff, nursing, social services, risk management, and administration. The staff chaplain serves as the facilitator for the ethics committee. Family members, patients, hospital staff and physicians may request an ethics consultation. To institute an ethics consult, please page the pastoral care department at 901-227-7243, pager #0345. You may also contact the pastoral care department at 662-772-4251 and leave a message. A member of the pastoral care staff will respond promptly to your request. Top of PagePhysicians Baptist DeSoto staff chaplains work closely with physicians as they treat patients and interact with families. Staff chaplains are also available for case consultation and spiritual care for physicians. Physicians interested in this opportunity may contact us. Top of PageCommunity Involvement and Ministry Baptist DeSoto staff chaplains serve as a resource for the community. We provide pulpit supply for local clergy as requested. We are available to provide intentional training in pastoral care and hospital visitation to lay people, deacons and church staff members. We relate to the local Baptist Association. We can provide education and information to support groups on a variety of topics, such as:
Top of PageContinuing Education for Clergy Baptist DeSoto, in affiliation with Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis and other Baptist regional hospitals' pastoral care departments, sponsors continuing education seminars for volunteer chaplains and local clergy. These seminars are intended to increase the pastoral competence at the intersection of ministry, spirituality and health. Examples of previous workshops include "Applying Families Systems Theory in Ministry with Families in Crisis," "Application of Family Systems Theory for Pastoral Leadership," and "Hope in Pastoral Care." Additionally, chaplains are available to clergy for consultation regarding specific issues in pastoral care. To make an appointment for a consultation, please contact us at 662-772-4251.
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In keeping with the three-fold ministry of Christ — healing, preaching and teaching — Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation is committed to providing quality health care. |