The Hospital Visit

Perry H. Biddle is the pastors pastor. He wrote books for pastors on what a hospital visit should look like or what to expect in performing a marriage or a funeral. He's written 18 books for the clergy and laity.

I just finished reading A Hospital Visitation Manual. As you minister to people in the hospital remember these ten random things I gained from reading the book and from living in a hospital for the past five months.

1. Keep visits brief. A survey of ministers said they stay anywhere from five to fifteen minutes. Sound too brief? Consider that it takes a lot of emotional strength from the patient to be "on" for the visiting friend/pastor.

2. Check with the nurses before knocking to enter. You will be respected by the patient's nurse for doing so.

3. Thoroughly wash your hands before entering room. Scrub, people, scrub.

4. Always knock before entering. No surprises. You know how those hospital robes expose. Identify yourself when knocking.

5. Listen with your eyes. "A quick look around the room will reveal helpful clues for shaping the pastoral call." Is the patient in bed? Walking around? A lot of machines? Few or many get-well cards, flowers or gifts?

6. Use humor when appropriate. The hospital is a very serious place so your smile and light humor will be uplifting.

7. Touch, but watch out! According to Biddle, "so few people touch the patient unless they are doing some medical procedure that a gentle touch can be a welcome sign of caring." But, people, ask first! Make sure the touch can't be misconstrued in any way!

8. Don't pry into medical details unless offered by the patient. The patient can get tired of talking medicine but conversely, could use someone to help think through their medical future.

9. Wanna really help? Act. Rather than proclaiming good news with your mouth ("everything will be okay!") lovingly act. Through acting you proclaim God's presence at a time when His presence might be in question.

10. Wash your hands upon leaving...but not in the patient's room as you don't want to leave the wrong impression. Scrub, people, scrub.