Chaplaincy Services at Holzer Health Systems

If you are in crisis, Holzer Chaplaincy Services is here for you. And while it is often thought chaplains address only end-of-life issues, the staff of Holzer Chaplaincy Services is here for much more, providing a wide range of services from ethical consultations and living wills to simple but needed reassurance.

If you wish to call or email the Chaplaincy Services at Holzer Medical Center, Gallipolis or Jackson, please visit our Chaplaincy Services contact page. We are always available to provide comfort, support, and to answer your questions.

Chaplaincy Services provides routine pastoral visitation for our patients and residents in each Holzer Health System facility. Emergency pastoral care and intervention can be requested through either the PBX Operator or the Nursing Administrator.

Chaplaincy Services

Chaplaincy Services provides the following services free of charge:

• Advance Directives provide guidance for end-of-life care decision making for the patient and patient’s family. This can include aid with living wills and medical powers of attorney.)
• Conflict Resolution provides a third party intervention into difficult and problematic situations when patients and their families are challenged by healthcare choices.
• Crisis Intervention & Grief Counseling provide clinically trained hospital chaplains and counselors for those situations that place ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. In both cases the counseling and interventions are brief.
• Emotional Comfort and Support provides clinically trained hospital chaplains to patients, their families, and the staff when challenged by circumstances beyond the normal realm of human experience.
• Pastoral Care and Counseling provides the added value of clinically trained mental health experts with a faith based perspective in helping patients, their families, and the staff make sense of their circumstances and the opportunity for healing at a variety of levels.
• Pastoral Presence and Prayer provides representative ministry at the most crucial moments of life when our patients, their family, and/or the staff experience a significant disruption in the regular, routine aspects of life. Chaplains provide information and interpretation on matters of ethics, patient rights, and responsibilities based on sound teachings, policies, procedures, and practices.
• Patient and Staff Visitation provides an opportunity for the patient, a family member, or a staff member to raise issues in a non-threatening manner and find resolution through dialogue, prayer, and reflection.
• Spiritual Assessments provide the medical and nursing staff with an alternative perspective when providing service within the healthcare setting. Spiritual Assessments are based upon a clinical interview with the patient by the chaplain in understanding the patient’s concerns, desires, and needs that may transcend the traditional medical model for care.

All patients are seen by referral or consultation. All Chaplaincy Services are provided free of charge.

Chapels & Sacred Spaces

Holzer Medical Center Gallipolis

Holzer Medical Center Gallipolis has a chapel available 24/7.  The Chapel of the Great Physician is located on the first floor to the left of the Main Entrance and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Holzer Medical Center Jackson

Holzer Medical Center Jackson has a chapel available 24/7.The Inter-Faith Chapel is located beside the Waiting Area near the Emergency Department and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Holzer Center for Cancer Care

Holzer Center for Cancer Care has a Sacred Space known as the Healing Garden which is a natural setting with a water fall, fountain, walkway, and the world’s first Reflection Labyrinth for folks to enjoy. The Garden is attractively adorned with lush flora.

Holzer Senior Care and Holzer Assisted Living

Holzer Senior Care Center and Holzer Assisted Living in Gallipolis and Jackson each have Community Multipurpose Rooms where religious and spiritual services are offered.

Additional Chaplaincy Services

One of the challenges of practicing public ministry in a healthcare setting, particularly in a community based hospital, is the perception that the chaplains only respond to end-of-life issues. While this is an important aspect of our work, it is only about 10% of the job. In reality, managing families in crisis, providing routine pastoral care, and ethical consultations represents a significantly higher percentage of our time and work.

The Chaplaincy Services Department provides continuing education events four times a year for area clergy in the fields of bereavement and loss, crisis intervention, ethics, and pastoral care and theology. The training is generally low to no cost for the clergy and it helps provide training for many of our bi-vocational pastors who work a full time job outside a church setting as well as serving their church.

Additionally, Holzer Health Systems has had a long term commitment to the development of community and faith-based partnerships. While the majority of the patient population served is within a five county area, we have established relationships with clergy, laity, and faith communities within a one hundred mile radius of the main campuses.

Service Area

The primary service area for Holzer Chaplaincy Services are the in-patient facilities in the Gallia and Jackson County areas, with the exception of Holzer Hospice, Home Care, and the Holzer Center for Cancer Care where home visits are performed by clinically trained personnel who have passed a background check. While the majority of the patient population served is within a five county area, we have established relationships with clergy, laity, and faith communities within a one hundred mile radius of the main campuses.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should a chaplain be consulted or contacted?

Generally, hospital chaplains respond to the full range of opportunities to be of service, from crisis-like circumstances to routine visitation. Chaplains make routine pastoral visits during daytime hours and are available for crises, deaths, and emergencies through an on-call system.

Does your facility allow area clergy and pastors to visit patients or residents?

Area Clergy and Pastors are always welcome to visit members of their faith communities. Holzer Health Systems honors and protects the confidentiality, privacy, and security of our patients and residents by discouraging visitation when there is not an established relationship between the patient or resident and the faith leader.

Do your chaplains try to evangelize or proselytize within your facilities?

Our chaplains practice public ministry in a healthcare setting where the primary emphasis is on health and well being. Evangelizing and proselytizing is inconsistent with the practice of public ministry.

What kind of training do your chaplains receive prior to service within your facilities?

All of our chaplains must apply for membership in the Volunteer Chaplains Association and must be practicing ministry is an approved and recognized ministry setting. They receive 40 hours of clinical training prior to engaging in ministry and work under the supervision of a Board Certified Chaplain who is a licensed, ordained, and endorsed clergyperson.

Does your facility have a Chapel or Sacred Space?

Holzer Medical Center Gallipolis and Holzer Medical Center Jackson each have a chapel available 24/7. Holzer Center for Cancer Care has a Sacred Space known as the Healing Garden which is a natural setting with a water fall, fountain, walkway, and the world’s first Reflection Labyrinth for folks to enjoy. The Garden is attractively adorned with lush flora.

Chaplaincy History

The Chaplaincy Services Department was created in the mid 1970’s when rural hospitals began to recognize the contributions of pastoral care and counseling as a legitimate service for assisting our patients, their families, and the staff. For thirty years Holzer Health Systems has employed one full time Director of Chaplaincy Services to oversee the Volunteer Chaplains Association.

The Board of Trustees initially chartered the Volunteer Chaplains Association for Holzer Medical Center in Gallipolis. Since the year 2000 Holzer Health Systems has expanded its enterprise and created new facilities and options for healthcare in our area and the Chaplaincy Services Department was asked to respond.

In the year 2005 the Volunteer Chaplains Association and the Chaplaincy Services Department were newly chartered to reflect its importance and significant within the Holzer Consolidated Health System of pastoral care and spiritual services.

In the thirty years since the Chaplaincy Services Department has existed, over 500 area pastors have been a part of the Volunteer Chaplains Association. As of 2005, the VCA membership has grown to 100 active chaplains serving six facilities, eight service lines, with clergy in five counties in Ohio and three in West Virginia.

Area pastors interested in learning more about the Volunteer Chaplains Association can contact Holzer Medical Center or email toinfo@holzer.org. 

Location

At Holzer Medical Center Gallipolis, the Chaplaincy Services are located on the first floor across from Administration. The Chapel of the Great Physician is located on the first floor to the left of the Main Entrance and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

At Holzer Medical Center Jackson, the Chaplaincy Services are located on the ground floor between the Main Entrance and the Surgery Center Entrance. The Inter-Faith Chapel is located beside the Waiting Area near the Emergency Department and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Chaplaincy Personnel

Reverend Sherron Courneen is a licensed and ordained United Methodist minister from the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. She holds an Undergraduate Honor’s Degree from the Ohio State University in Arts and Sciences, a Master of Divinity Degree and a Master of Substance Abuse Ministry from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, in Delaware, OH. She has fifteen years of experience in ministry in the United Methodist Church with the General Board of Global Ministries and a wealth of experience as a member of the United Methodist Appalachian Church Ministry and teaches Appalachian Studies. She also has experience as a substance abuse counselor and mental health background. Rev. Courneen’s faith perspective is in creating the Kingdom of God.

Mrs. Pamela Hankinson is the Administrative Assistant. She is currently pursuing completion of her undergraduate degree from the University of Rio Grande. In addition to her duties with the Chaplaincy Services Department she serves as the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Business Development, Marketing and Community Relations Departments, and the Vice President of Medical Affairs.

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