Infection Control - St. Joseph Medical Center

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Faith Meet the Surgery Chaplain Spreading blessings and calm in the presurgical area leads to better outcomes St. Joseph’s beautiful new front entrance and Surgical Services waiting area inspire confidence, but once patients come into the Ambulatory Surgery Unit (ASU), their caregivers fill them with even more assurance that they are in the best of hands. They meet highly skilled nurses and are greeted by a warm, supportive person whom they did not expect— Father Bogdan Palka, ASU chaplain, watches over the ASU patients and staff—his flock—offering blessings and comfort no matter what denomination a person is. He tries to visit every patient, approximately 20-40 a day, and is seldom turned down. “I offer them a prayer, a blessing, or anointing of the sick. I call it my spiritual medication to quench their anxiety,” said Father Bogdan with a smile, in his charming Polish accent. He describes the area as a mosaic of faiths and keeps Jewish and Hindu prayers on hand. The nurses look forward to his arrival each morning. “He laughs. He jokes,” said Mary Stoecker, RN. “There’s a real human behind the collar. He’s always there for us.” “He has a calming effect. It doesn’t matter what your religion is,” said Regina Schuch, RN. Less Pain, More Peace So calming, that according to Dr. Paul McAfee, head of Spinal Surgery at St. Joseph, “Father Bogdan performs an incredibly important service to patients of all faiths. After his visit, they’re much less agitated in the OR, and they actually need less pain medication when they wake up. Father Bogdan is one of the greatest people I’ve ever met.” “You see a peace, an appreciation from patients,” said Deborah Hall, RN. “You cannot ask for anything better before surgery.” “Spiritual care is just as important as the registration or medication part,” explained Susanne DeCrane, director of Spiritual Care at St. Joseph. “Patients almost feel like a weight’s been lifted off their shoulders. To my best knowledge, we are the only hospital with spiritual care dedicated to the presurgical area,” said DeCrane. “Jewish prayer books or “It is a space for prayer the Koran are available. and meditation, For those of the Muslim designed for people tradition, the room features to bring shelves in their to faith” place their Susanne shoes DeCrane, and a very subtle Director of Spiritual marker Care indicating Mecca.” New Interfaith Room Welcomes All Beliefs Nourishing and comforting the spirit is of the utmost importance at St. Joseph Medical Center, which is why our Spiritual Care Center recently opened the new Interfaith Room. “The concept is a room that isn’t defined by religious symbols of any tradition,” explained Susanne DeCrane, St. Joseph’s director of Spiritual Care. Located by the Meditation Garden on the first floor, “this neutral room is warm and welcoming. It is a space for prayer and meditation, designed for people to bring in their faith—it can become a Jewish, Muslim or Hindu space, or any type of spiritual space a person needs.” For example, Jewish prayer books or the Koran are available. For those of the Muslim tradition, the room features shelves to place their shoes and a very subtle marker indicating Mecca. “We support the faith traditions of our patients in many ways. We have more than 130 visiting clergy, including most Protestant denominations, Rabbis and an Imam. We provide electric menorahs on request for the Sabbath. Just let us know; we’ll do our best to support your spiritual needs,” added DeCrane. Spiritual Care can be reached at 410-337-1109. Fall 2009 St. Joseph Medical Center / sjmcmd.org
DIn te Spirit d Inspired giving through the St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation Oh,What a Night! Hands quickly raised to bid on the live auction… dancing to Shades of Blue…mingling among friends… Guests at the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor on Saturday, April 18 could feel the commotion from “Life in Motion,” St. Joseph Medical Center’s Gala benefiting The Orthopaedic Institute at St. Joseph. With 800 guests in attendance, the Gala netted over $300,000 to support an orthopaedic program that has received national awards and recognition. David Dalury, M.D., one of the honorary chairs of the Gala and a Foundation board member, commented: “The Institute at St. Joseph Medical Center is one of the largest in the state, leaders not only in orthopaedics but pain management, as well. I’m delighted that so many of our support staff could be a part of the evening as many of them will benefit from the Gala. (Continued on following page) (clockwise from top) David Dalury, M.D., Kim Tortolani, Justin Tortolani, M.D.; Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith, James Ricely, M.D., Peggy Ricely; Gala Co-Chairs, Victoria and Carmen Deyesu; Heather Troyer, C.N.A., Amy Baker, R.N., Heather Gamber, R.N., Nicole Wallace, R.N., Sarah Staley, C.N.A., Charmaine Harper, R.N. SJMcmd.org / St. Joseph Medical Center foundation Fall 2009 A
Page 1 and 2: Fall 2009 / sjmcmd.org Mission Poss
Page 3 and 4: Obstetrics Ooh Baby, The Secret’s
Page 5 and 6: Rapid Response Rapid to the Rescue!
Page 7: Oncology A Cozy Courageous Feeling
Page 11 and 12: ZEN & NOW GIFTS IS HERE! Visitors t
Page 13 and 14: EMergency Care Faster ER Care, Than
Page 15 and 16: orthopaedics High-Demand, High-Tech
Page 17 and 18: Techno Bytes Radiosurgery—A Giant
Page 19 and 20: Community & Family Programs SUPPORT

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