CAN Seventh-day Adventist medical institutions approximate and even surpass the level of care given by non-Adventist facilities and yet largely miss the fundamental reason for their existence? Is it possible for patients to enter and leave our institutions virtually untouched by the health message that is to play such an important role in soul winning? It is in recognition of this danger that Simi Valley Adventist Hospital has implemented a dimension of heart-level concern and integrated it into their already high-quality program of care. Here's how it works.
The plan is based on the premise that a hospitalized individual is often an anxious, insecure, uncomfortable, and, above all, lonely person in spite of being the center of busy activity. The personnel involved in his care are continuously changing. A different nurse or aide introduces herself each time the shift changes. Lab and X-ray technicians, inhalation and physical therapists, housekeepers, and pink ladies hurry in and out. The chaplain comes by, and his friendly, relaxed air provides a gratifying change, but some patients are wary of letting the conversation drift into serious veins since to them the chaplain represents the church that runs the hospital.
Who, then, can provide a sense of sincere personal concern as well as continuity without any overtone of proselyting? At Simi Valley Adventist Hospital it is the health services representative, a registered nurse with experience in health education. Instead of the traditional white uniform, she wears a sunny yellow smock and is known as the "lady in the yellow smock."
The health services representative's first visit goes somewhat as follows:
"Hello, ............. I'm Amy Sherrard. I represent all the services in the hospital and am just checking to make sure that everything is going all right and find out whether there is anything more we can do to make you comfort able. Are the girls taking good care of you?" (Almost always the patient responds with enthusiastic praise.)
"Good! I'm glad. Don't hesitate to let us know if there's anything more we can do." (Any requests are followed through.)
"This is a little brochure you'll be interested in. [Worthington's colorful "And the Food Is Excellent, Too."] It explains why we emphasize plant proteins in our hospitals. Also, I'd like to encourage you to take advantage of a free service our hospital provides. This little pamphlet lists many areas of health interest. If you'd like to learn more about any of them just check your choices and your nurse will see that I get the list." (The patient's interest in specific areas of health information is followed up with brochures, filmstrips, flip charts, classes, or personal counseling.)
In many cases the patient is asked about his basic health habits and these are coded on his record. The questions go about as follows:
"Mr. ............. I do a little health habit scan on my patients, and I'd like to ask you a few questions. When you're at home when do you take your main meal of the day? In the evening?" (Almost invariably they do.)
"How about breakfast?" (Seldom.) "Lunch?" (Sketchy.)
"What do you snack on during the day and while you're watching TV in the evening?" (Usually empty-calorie items.)
"How many cups of coffee, tea, or colas would you say you drink in the run of a day?" (Incredible answers.)
"How about tobacco?"
"Alcohol?"
"Would you say you get regular exercise every day? By that I mean some form of activity that forces you to breathe deeply for, say, about fifteen consecutive minutes?" (Rarely.)
If there is an apparent weight problem: "Let's see, you're probably about ........ tall? And you weigh around ............ pounds?"
The foregoing brief dialog provides an automatic springboard for open discussion either immediately or later. Patients are eager to talk about themselves, their hangups, guilt feelings, or ignorance in relation to their health habits. From here the next step is spontaneous stress, tensions, problems, are aired. And it is wonderful how quickly the only real answer can come into the picture without the overtones of proselyting. Sensing the opportunity to introduce Jesus as our best Friend requires only knowing and loving Him one's self.
On her rounds, the health services representative carries a card for each patient. These cards are kept on file after the patient is discharged. They contain pertinent information such as age, address, telephone number, diagnosis, doctor, admission and discharge dates, and a coded health-habit profile.
Brief visits with the patient are made each day, and an anecdotal record is kept. Even if a patient is out or otherwise occupied, this is noted on his card and is mentioned during the next visit so that the patient knows he was not overlooked.
The department's full-time secretary is an essential element in the program. She keeps the cards updated, cares for the files making sure that previous records are on hand for returning patients, keeps up all teaching supplies, and sends out follow-up materials. As soon as possible after a patient is admitted she greets him, presents a hospital brochure, and tells him that a lady in a yellow smock will be seeing him before long.
After discharge, a copy of Life and Health or Listen, along with a personal note and a sign-up card for Voice of Prophecy's "Focus on Living" series is sent to the patient. A service evaluation form is also included.
The responses of appreciation more than confirm the need for this type of personal concern that utilizes the "right arm of the message."
At present a retired Bible worker is helping to follow up interests. She takes with her an appropriate health (or other) booklet, and her "calling card" is simply to state that she is a friend of the nurse in the yellow smock at the hospital who asked her to stop by with the item since she couldn't come herself but was wondering how the patient was getting along. The door invariably is opened wide and from that point on the patient has another concerned and loving friend.
The need for follow-up personnel is acute. This appears to be an area of witnessing that many hesitate to attempt, yet the potential is immense. People are desperately hungry for genuine love and concern.
Simi Valley Adventist Hospital, through its lady in the yellow smock, seeks to demonstrate to its patients this kind of heart-level concern.
