RECENTLY I was told that Adventist hospitals are operated primarily for public relations. To my way of thinking this is a prostitution of the medical work that the Lord has given us in order to prepare people for His soon coming. I don't believe that Adventists are commissioned by God to run community hospitals as a good-will gesture just nice people doing nice things. In God's plan Adventist hospitals are to be a rallying point for an aggressive medical-evangelistic program. After all, even our non-Adventist friends suspect that this is our motivation.
Like all Adventist hospitals, Park view Memorial Hospital in Brunswick, Maine, was having its problems concerning diet. To answer some of the criticism I prepared a scientific paper on "The Adequacy of a Vegetarian Diet," and presented it to the medical staff. Following a rather bland discussion, the pathologist (a non- Adventist) said to me, "Ron, no reasonable person argues about the adequacy of a vegetarian diet. Your problem is that people are afraid that if they acquiesce to your vegetarian diet that somehow they will become infected with the virus of Seventh-day Adventism! They know Adventists are an aggressive evangelical group. Somehow the diet is part of this process."
Perhaps such candor could only emanate from Maine, but if our critics were all as perceptive and forthright they would be as can did. Don't we need to be more honest with ourselves and with those whom our hospitals serve? And if we are, won't our health care, then, have a more meaningful evangelistic thrust? Instead of merely providing excellent medicine in efficiently run hospitals operated by nice people we need to be recognized as people concerned with the spiritual as well as the physical needs of the patients who come to us. 1
Each of us who is part of this hospital team must believe that the Adventist Christian "virus," as my pathologist friend puts it, is a wholesome, attractive one and we must individually live and practice all its tenets and individually show to the world the advantages of this way of life. The consistent Christian life is an irresistible power. 7
God's principles of healthful living must also be presented through every possible medium and method of health education and example. This does not eliminate working with the community. In fact, it gives a strong, effective base from which we can support our hospital concepts concepts which, although unique, are not that far out.
The suggestions outlined above for carrying out Adventist objectives in running hospitals, even when Adventist personnel represent a minority, do not exhaust the list, but I believe illustrate it. It may well be that we should not take over all the hospitals that are offered to us and try to operate them. First we must seriously consider our goals and not extend ourselves so thin that we cannot be effective. If it is to be an Adventist hospital, let it be just that, a Better Living Center for the community, preparing them for the life to come!
I realize that some will point out that community and government are demanding more and more say and control in the running of hospitals; that we have open staffs, citizens' advisory committees, area planning, and that we are being forced into the mold of uniformity. But, from our own experience of working with these groups over the past 15 years, I believe they respect honesty and forthrightness. They are surprisingly receptive to our concepts when they are presented in a positive and attractive manner. The following summary of what I have learned in dealing with the kind of situation outlined at the be ginning of this article may be helpful:
1. The majority of these educated and responsible people will, and can, grasp the concept that Adventist medicine is unique because of its concern for the whole man.
2. They recognize that disease prevention is better than continually patching people up and that health education is the modus operandi.8
3. They may chafe some at the diet so do many of our own members and most Adventist hospitals have resolved this by giving a choice after some attempt at educating those interested to the better diet.
4. No smoking in public facilities is becoming a rule rather than the exception.
5. Sabbath observance may be an inconvenience to them but they are courteous enough to be tolerant and some will want to know why.
6. Adventist physicians and professional people associated with the hospital will have to be above reproach professionally and ethically. Any success they may have may be considered a threat, but their professional colleagues understand the free enterprise system and its implications. How ever, there must be no favors shown or expected because they are Adventists in an Adventist hospital.
7. Above all, a Christian influence should predominate. This will make friends and break down prejudice as God blesses and touches the lives of those who come in contact with this unique medical institution.
But let us consider this problem in a little more depth. How do you do this in a hospital setting when 90 percent of the physicians are non-Adventists and probably less than 20 per cent of the hospital staff are Adventists? This is not hypothetical. It is actually the trend across the country as more and more hospitals are being built or expanded and others are being taken over to be run as "Adventist" hospitals.
Ideally, perhaps we should be running many small institutions2 "organized and controlled exclusively by Seventh-day Adventists." 3 These institutions should be located near population centers and be used as "outposts" from which these cities are to be worked. 4 As Joseph and Daniel were God's representatives, so our institutions are to glorify His name. "By them the truth for this time is to be represented before the world with convincing power." They are to reveal to the world the character of God. 5 What a challenge and what a responsibility!
But, practically, how do we re solve the dilemma of a minority group trying to carry out these inspired principles in a less than ideal situation? I believe the solution lies in total commitment by this minority group to the concept that the Seventh-day Adventist "virus" is not some loath some, repulsive disease! What is wrong with a virus that could lead to a better way of life here and a future eternal life through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? Why should we be timid or apologetic?
I believe there is an irreducible, effective minimum of Adventist personnel for a medical institution to be a functioning Adventist hospital.
The Hospital Team
This irreducible minimum of personnel should include:
The administrator and his assistant.
The head nurse and her assistants and, ideally, at least one SDA graduate nurse or LPN on a shift, in charge if qualified to supervise.
Heads of departments X-ray, lab, physical therapy, dietary, housekeeping, maintenance, et cetera.
A hard core of well-qualified Adventist physicians, and I personally think one of these should be the medical director. 6
A completely SDA hospital board.
FOOTNOTES
1. Medical Ministry, p. 191.
2. Ibid., p. 159.
3. Counsels on Health, p. 401.
4. Selected Messages, book 2, p. 358.
5. Testimonies, vol. 6, pp. 219-221.
6. R. A. Settle, M.D., "Replacing the Missing Link," The Ministry, March, 1972, p. 38.
7. The Desire of Ages, p. 347.
8. The Report of the President's Conference on Health Education (801 2d Ave., New York, N.Y.), Feb., 1971.
