Liaison with community

Often patients are first visited by a UTMB hospital chaplain who asks the patient if they would like their pastor to be notified of their hospitalization. Knowing how important spiritual care is to the healing process of a patient, local community ministers frequently visit their congregational members who are in the hospital. 

The Pastoral Care dept assists local ministers so their visits to the hospital are easier and more successful. An identification badge is available that identifies the minister to patients and staff when visiting the hospital. An orientation and reference manual is given to these ministers to help them better understand the hospital. 

 Here are some of the guidelines that might be helpful to a new minister:

 1) UTMB hospital visiting hours are from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Please wear your UTMB Visiting Minister ID badge at all times, but especially after 9 p.m. when visitation is limited to authorized personnel only.

 2) The staff at the main information desk will assist you in locating your parishioners from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. All other times a red telephone can be located on the information desk, that will automatically dial the operator. Ask the operator for assistance in finding your parishioners.

 3) Free parking is available for badged visiting ministers.

 4) Confidentiality is important to our patients. Please attend an orientation soon to learn how the Federal HIPAA law pertains to the Minister and patient.

 5) UTMB has fire drills that will affect you if you are in the hospital at the time. By attending orientation you will be given fire safety guidelines as they help to keep both the patient and the visiting minister safe.

 6) Weather emergency information is available by dialing  (747-8676) for 24-hour weather service in Galveston.

 7) When visiting an intensive/intermediate care unit parishioner on one of these units, use the special telephones located in the waiting rooms to contact the nursing unit for visitation clearance.

 8) When visiting a patient in isolation, there are infection control warning signs near the door area that alert the visitor of precautions that must be taken when visiting the patient.

 8) Thorough handwashing is an important part of keeping infection in the hospital under control.

 9) Do not give a patient something to eat or drink, even water; but instead relay this to their nurse.

 10) When a patient exhibits unusual behavior, such as choking, problems breathing, or changing color, the volunteer should always call the nurse by using the bedside signal or by going to the nursing station.  Always allow medial staff the right-of-way during an emergency.

 11) While administering the sacrament, if you have any questions in your mind with regard to the patient’s ability to swallow, please check with their nurse.

 12) Your badge may be renewed once a year at the Pastoral Care office by calling and setting a time to attend a badge renewal session.

 13) To perform a particular rite or ceremony in the chapel, contact the Department of Pastoral Care office for scheduling and approval.  The office is located at 1.220 John Sealy Towers, or you may call (409) 772-3909.

 Please remember that any unethical or disruptive conduct during hospital visitations is not allowed.  In addition, room-to-room proselytizing is strictly prohibited as it infringes upon patient care and our patients’ right to privacy.  Any such conduct will result in expulsion from the hospital.  Religious literature may be left with individual parishioners, but the general distribution or the placement of such literature is not permitted.