FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK

A new set of government regulations concerning pastoral care at health care institutions was passed in April. The law was enacted to protect the privacy rights of patients.

As parishioners, you need to be aware of the following:

Hospitals no longer call the church to notify pastors when a parishioner is in their facility.
Pastors may not put names on prayer lists at church without the patient's permission.
Your pastor will not announce to the congregation persons admitted to health care facilities, deaths in the family , or other such information unless it is directly requested from the parishioner.
If you would like your pastor to be present with you prior to surgery or in an emergency situation, the more specific you can be about times, locations in the hospital, etc., the easier it will be for your pastor to gain access.

HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR PASTOR:

If you or a family member is admitted to a health care facility, call the parsonage office at 973-663-3132 as soon as possible and let them know. Let Rev. Linda know if you would like to be on the prayer list.
Patients should mention their church and religion upon admission.
If you or a member of your family is uncertain about whether anyone at the church knows they are in a health care facility, speak to a member of the nursing staff. Nurses will notify pastors when there has been an emergency if the family requests such notification.
Parishioners should be understanding if they feel their name had been left off the prayer list. Your pastor will add names as soon as possible once they have received word from the family/individual.

Ministry has become very complicated. Issues of privacy and confidentiality have changed and must be honored. Please be understanding as we move into new times

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