Hospital Visitation Taken from the book, “Pastoral Care in Hospitals” by Neville A. Kirkwood
Hospitals are scary places! What are some things you dislike about hospitals?
Why even visit patients? Matthew 25:34-36 (34)  "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. (35)  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, (36)  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.‘ (40)  "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
When we visit the sick, we are serving Christ
Some theological reasons to minister through hospital visitation… The principle of ministry… We are called to be Christ to the world. Pastoral care at the bedside must issue from Christian motivation.
The Principle of the Value of Persons… Christianity following Jesus’ example places value upon the individual person as created in God’s image In the hospital setting the patient has much of his or her dignity stripped The pastoral visitor will enhance the patient’s sense of self-worth. Manipulation of patients in their weakened physical, mental, and emotional condition should be a death sentence for any minister involved! (Just my humble opinion)
The Principle of Creation God created persons to be growing, developing beings. Spiritual growth is intended through God’s creation of human beings. The hospital can be defeating, humiliating, and depressing… Pastoral care can point out avenues along which the patient can move toward growth.
The Principle of Revelation Revelation comes when humans encounter God. A very important thing to remember is that God’s presence can be experienced in the hospital room. The pastoral care person’s role is to facilitate such experiences…
The principle of incarnation Incarnation means that God is with us… .Immanuel. Matthew 28:20b... “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." We minister to others through the power of Jesus. We are Jesus’ body to this world
WE are to be Jesus to the patient.
Move with the feet of Jesus Whenever we go, it should be to the bedside of the one to whom God has led us… To be at another bedside is to be at the wrong place..
John 5:1-9  nkjv (1)  After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (2)  Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, [17] having five porches. (3)  In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. (4)  For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. [18] (5)  Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. (6)  When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" (7)  The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me." (8)  Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." (9)  And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
John 5:1-9  nkjv (1)  After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (2)  Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, [17] having five porches. (3)  In these lay a  great multitude of sick people , blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. (4)  For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. [18] (5)  Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. (6)  When  Jesus saw him lying there , and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" (7)  The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me." (8)  Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." (9)  And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
As the hands and feet of Jesus… We do practical things with the patient… no more, no less We are not to be out to impress people by overdoing it We are not to be so timid and scared that we do not do enough. * We will discuss practical things in a little while
We are to see with the eyes of God We are to look beyond the surface We must “read” what is not being shown We must look through the masks that hide real fears and apprehensions Our seeing goes beyond the human to a divine understanding
We are to hear with the ears of God “ Beneath the talk and sometimes stoic front, there are muted cries, cries that are not audible, yet are punishingly real to the patient or family members.  These cries are not to be heard except by the ears of a God-inspired carer.”   Neville A Kirkwood, page 302,  Pastoral Care in Hospitals
To know you are heard adds healing and comfort… Allow the patient (or family members) to open up to you Hear their honest cries.. Allow them to share their fears with you… Don’t shut them off because you don’t want to hear… Listening with the ears of God brings relief to the sufferer… Listening is the key to true pastoral care
Speak with the voice of God This is the most mysterious to me… But Everyone that has been called by God to minister to others, knows when this happens… After you have observed with the eyes of God, and listened with the ears of God…
You are then able to speak with the voice of God. God will speak through you… It is God’s voice the patient (or family) needs to hear, not yours It is God’s voice that soothes, encourages, motivates, provides, and maintains hope… Be aware of the Spirit’s prompting… Use His Word also…
Love with the love of God. Not a sounding gong, or clanging cymbal…. Not a display of your theological knowledge…  Not a display of your talents.. Not even a great display of faith… It is LOVE the patient longs to hear and to see…
Love… The love that is willing to go to the extremes of Calvary is the love that bears fruit at the bedside…. But what does this love look like?
Love Them Like Jesus  by Casting Crowns... The love of her life is drifting away They're losing the fight for another day The life that she's known is falling apart A fatherless home, a child's broken heart You're holding her hand, you're straining for words You trying to make - sense of it all She's desperate for hope, darkness clouding her view She's looking to you
Just love her like Jesus, carry her to Him His yoke is easy, His burden is light You don't need the answers to all of life's questions Just know that He loves her and stay by her side Love her like Jesus Love her like Jesus
The gifts lie in wait, in a room painted blue Little blessing from Heaven would be there soon Hope fades in the night, blue skies turn to gray As the little one slips away You're holding her hand, you're straining for words You're trying to make sense of it all They're desperate for hope, darkness clouding their view They're looking to you
Just love them like Jesus, carry them to Him His yoke is easy, His burden is light You don't need the answers to all of life's questions Just know that He loves them and stay by their side Love them like Jesus Lord of all creation holds our lives in His hands The God of all the nations holds our lives in His hands The Rock of our salvation holds our lives in His hands He cares for them just as He cares for you So love them like Jesus, love them like Jesus You don't need the answers to all of life's questions Just know that He loves them and stay by their side Love them like Jesus Love them like Jesus
But there are some pitfalls we need to watch out for… Acceptance… Both the need for acceptance and the need to accept others. Name the type of people you find hard to minister to. What are some of the traits that turn you from people? What needs to happen for you to be able to accept them?
In your contact with some of the seemingly unlovable characters of this world, how are you able to overcome any prejudice you may recognize in yourself?
Pastors are some of the neediest people I have ever known… We do a lot of things that drive people away from us… No one wants a preacher at a party! Everyone acts funny around us… “ Thank God, he left… Now we can have fun!!” So a lot of times we feel the need to be accepted so much that it effects our availability…
Availability Being called out of hours or when you are about to go home – What does it do to you? Can availability lead to burnout? Have you a fear of burnout? Availability may be the tool to lever a pastoral worker into being overused. How do we avoid this?
Hour 2:  Practical advice for Pastoral care givers… Paula Kesner….
Questions you need to ask yourselves before you head off to the hospital Does the patient need a visit? If so, when would be the best time? Am I the appropriate pastoral person?
When you are at the hospital… Make your visit comfortable Any sign of making the patient uncomfortable, or apprehensive should be your cue to leave. Show genuine concern People can see through your fakiness
Respect the patient The patient may feel: Exposed Useless A burden Threatened
What the patient needs Restoration of self respect Allowed to do things for themselves… To be reassured… Acceptance as they are Respect  To feel cared for and not abandoned
Things to observe… Hospital signs… i.e. NPO “Nil by mouth” Observe the patient For weakness For depression For signs of pain For their reaction to your visit
Observe the room A lot of flowers or card signals this person is well liked. A lot of religious cards can signal this person is religious Photographs of family are good conversation starters…
Observe the unspoken Read between the lines… Sometimes experience is the only way to do this… For example if a person talks a lot about what they have accomplished, they may feel unappreciated.. Or even angry because they are stuck in a bed…
The Patient’s needs Read from page 40-41
The patient needs Sensitivity Appropriateness Appropriate responses Just to be To see the Christ image To communicate
Common patient fears Death Results from a test Separation from people or things Unfinished business Monetary cares Isolation (no one cares) The unknown Pain  Mutilation Losing control
Temptations to avoid To set a program ahead of time To get rid of silence To become the focus To outtalk the patient To compare patients To provide solutions To organize the patient To take over the roles of the relatives To become the defender and champion of the patient… against staff
Temptations to avoid To disseminate knowledge To assume the sole pastoral role To expect a patient’s outpourings To concentrate on something else To stay too long To be the evangelist To be unnatural To coerce the patient into making a decision To hide behind the scriptures
Prayer Don’t assume every patient wants you to pray for them… Ask permission Don’t assume anything… It is their room… you are a visitor…  You don’t have a right to pray in their room. It is a privilege!
Indicators that the patient is open to prayer They ask for it!  A lot of talk about prayer Religious literature at the bedside Some religious conversation Sharing of an immediate anxiety Information from family or staff Prompting from the Holy Spirit Make sure you get permission…
How to pray: Be brief  Mention the patient’s name Pray from the patient’s point of view, you find this from your God eyes, and God ears.. Avoid theological bents Avoid religious jargon Bring a sense of God’s compassion Encourage hope Be careful with your words and information Manipulative prayer is unethical
For the seriously ill Breathe a prayer for them… “Dear savior, ease my pain” “Be close to me, loving God” “Gentle Jesus, touch my body and spirit” “Glorious father, fill me with Peace”
When leaving the room… Don’t be afraid to touch them and say,  “May God bless you” or “God be with you”
After leaving the hospital… Be careful with the information you have gained…  What happened in the hospital room STAYS in the hospital room! Review Hippa rules Make sure you have their permission to add them to your prayer list, emails, etc… Nothing destroys trust more than loose lipped pastors…. Never dramatize the situation… “ Just the facts, ma’am, Just the facts”