A Calling to Care

Stephen Ministers Serve Patients, Families at Fort Sanders Regional

Whether for a planned visit or unforeseen circumstance, a trip to Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center is a possibility for many of us at any time. Beyond physical care, Fort Sanders Regional offers spiritual care and an extra layer of emotional support for patients and families through a volunteer program called Stephen Ministry.

A Stephen Minister is a layperson (non-ordained)who is trained to give compassionate emotional and spiritual care to a patient or family member while in the hospital. Stephen Ministers are trained to serve people of all faiths and across levels of spirituality; in other words, they “meet people where they are.”

Evidence shows that healthcare chaplains’ presence and interventions make a positive difference to patients and family members as they cope with their situation and their healing. Patients who call upon spiritual resources throughout their illness experience less discomfort and greater satisfaction with their treatment.

Finding a Calling

Chaplain Randy Tingle has served as the supervisor of pastoral care at Fort Sanders Regional since 2011. A United Methodist pastor, he has served churches and other small hospitals as an ordained minister. He now oversees a team of four part-time chaplains to help meet the need at Fort Sanders Regional.

Tingle says Stephen Ministers are individuals who feel called to this service. They share qualities such as compassion for others and the gifts of discernment.

“It’s amazing to see the people that God sends here,” Tingle says. “We have retired professors, bankers, educators, retired nurses – the diverse background of those who come and serve shows the depth and reach of this program. I am honored to work with volunteers who are serving our community in this way.”

Difficulty During COVID-19

During the pandemic, Tingle facilitated “debriefing” groups for staff, who often became the communication link between patients and their families during a chaotic time.

“Our patients, families and staff felt the isolation that was a result of COVID’s impact on our healthcare facilities,” Tingle says. “The anxiety, exhaustion and emotional taxation for all involved created a need for continual compassionate and spiritual care. It has just shown what a difference this program can make in our emotional health during a difficult time.”

Impact of Ministry

Stephen Ministers are uniquely trained to provide spiritual care and comfort to a diverse group of patients with individual spiritual identities and needs, and therefore add a depth and dimension of care that would otherwise be neglected.

Chris Davis has volunteered with the program for seven years. About 10 years ago, he was hospitalized as a patient at Fort Sanders Regional and spent time at Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center. As Davis rehabilitated, he sought a way to give back to the community.

“I wanted to help people,” Davis says. “One day I was there for therapy and saw a bulletin for Stephen Ministry, so I attended the training. For anyone considering whether or not to get involved, I recommend coming to check it out, pray about it and try it out if you feel called.”

Davis says that when a Stephen Minister volunteer visits a patient, they are sometimes the only visitor the patient has. “We are there to minister to both the patient and their family, listen to them, whatever they need. It’s that emotional healing piece on top of the medical care they are getting. Even if it’s just a quick hello, knowing someone is there who cares can make a world of difference.”

More than 5,000 patients per year have benefitted from this service, and Stephen Ministers volunteer more than 700 hours annually. Tingle says he’s been blessed to watch the growth in spiritual service of more than 60 individuals who found their “calling to care” for others in need through this program. “I have seen people’s lives impacted who are both caregivers and volunteers alike.”

What’s Involved in Becoming a Stephen Minister Volunteer?

Stephen Ministers have a presence in many areas of the hospital: Med-surg (pre- and post-operation), cardiology, orthopedic and oncology units, as well as the transitional care unit for people undergoing short-term rehabilitation for instances like hip replacement. They also visit the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center and serve our spine and neurological patients.

Tingle says this program exhibits a living, breathing example of how the hospital puts patients first and offers excellent care. “People who come to this hospital deserve quality healthcare. I think having Stephen Ministers talk to people who need someone to listen is a huge part of their healing; it shows the person they matter, and that they are valued,” Tingle says.

“This is a powerful ministry that impacts the lives of the patients and their families,” Tingle says. “It is also an opportunity for members of the community to live out a ‘calling to serve’ that has just as great an impact!”

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A Blessing and a Need

Stephen Ministers are volunteers who are trained to provide one-on-one emotional and spiritual care while a patient or family member is in the hospital.

Stephen Ministry training consists of a 50-hour training class covering topics such as grief, suffering, emotional issues persistent in a hospital setting and confidentiality guidelines. These volunteers also review the basics of family systems, talk therapy, how to implement effective listening skills, exhibit strong boundaries and watch for behavioral signs like suicide ideation.

Each group of commissioned Stephen Ministers then makes a commitment to visit in the hospital at least one hour each week for two years following the training. Volunteers select their own hours and are asked to participate in twice-monthly education gatherings to remain engaged, supervised and prepared for the ministry at hand.

Fort Sanders currently has 27 active Stephen Ministers.

For more information about Stephen Ministry, contact Chaplain Randy Tingle at 865-331-1235 or [email protected].

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