How Can a Chaplain Help Me?

While you're in the hospital, a chaplain can help you to feel more peaceful and relaxed. A hospital stay may evoke feelings of anxiety or fear, no matter how routine the procedure. And having someone to share your feelings with, someone to listen, someone to hold your hand, or someone to pray with, can make a difference in your well-being and in your healing. We are here to comfort you, to support your spiritual and emotional needs. Our services are provided to people of all faiths. We serve patients, families, and hospital staff.

Call a chaplain if you:

• Are in need of comfort or prayer
• Would like a pre-surgical visit
• Would like a religious ritual administered
• Are experiencing conflict between your religious beliefs and a recommended medical procedure
• Need help in making an end-of-life decision
• Feel sad, lonely, or anxious about a medical condition or procedure
• Have been given discouraging news about a medical condition

How Do I Arrange for a Catholic Priest to Administer the Sacrament of the Sick?

For Catholic patients, the Sacrament of the Sick or Eucharist may be important. Our chaplains will contact a priest on your behalf. Contact us or ask a doctor or nurse to make the call for you:

Strong Memorial Hospital and Golisano Children’s Hospital
(585) 275-2187

If I Need Help in Making an End-of-Life Decision, Whom Do I See?

Making an end-of-life decision is never easy. Whether you need guidance regarding religious beliefs or help to sort through your own feelings, you may benefit by talking to a chaplain. Our chaplains will listen and provide the compassionate support you need. They have access to resources to help you understand Advanced Directives, Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders, and Organ/Tissue Donation.

I’m a Staff Member; When Should I Call a Chaplain?

We work with medical and hospital staff to provide emotional and religious support to those in need. Our services are provided for patients, their families, and staff. You should call a chaplain:

• Upon request by a patient or family
• When families are emotionally challenged over a current situation
• For critically ill patients who are not expected to live
• For patients or families confronted with serious illness or death
• To assist patients and families concerning organ/tissue donation, cessation of treatment, and/or autopsy

Helping others, restoring health, and providing care is very rewarding work. But from time to time, caregivers and hospital staff may feel the emotional, and sometimes spiritual, weight of their work. We are here to support the hospital staff so that you may continue to help patients and their families. Call a chaplain if you are:

• Questioning your own spirituality, meaning, or purpose
• Feeling overwhelmed in your role as a caregiver
• Experiencing spiritual or emotional conflict

Chaplains also serve on the Staff Core Coordination Team through EAP.