Pastoral Services

The staff of Forrest City Medical Center recognizes the importance of spiritual and emotional support for patients and their families during times of hospitalization. Some patients feel the need for prayer, scripture reading, anointing, communion, pastoral counseling, and/or spiritual and emotional support. The hospital Chaplain is available to all patients regardless of their religious or church affiliations.

Appropriate times in which patients may feel the need to call the chaplain are:

• Prior to planed surgery or emergency/life-threatening surgery
• Unexpected diagnosis or major change in diagnosis
• Change in prognosis or poor prognosis
• Spiritual crisis or questioning of faith
• Expressing emotional or spiritual concerns
• Unexpected loss of baby

Appropriate times in which families may feel the need to call the chaplain are:

• When a patient's death is near or has occurred
• When life-supportive measures are being given (CPR)
• When end-of-life decisions are being considered

Pastoral Care is available 24 hours a day both through the hospital Chaplain and trained local pastors who provide on-call support during times in which the Chaplain is unavailable. To request a visit from the Chaplain, ask you nurse to contact the Chaplain on call by checking the call schedule or through the hospital operator at 261-0000. The Chaplain or the nursing staff are also willing to contact a patient's own minister at the patient's request. These contacts will lonely be made at the request of the patient as specified in the Federal Guidelines on Privacy and Confidentiality (HIPAA).

Chapel

The hospital chapel is open 24 hours a day for prayer. It is located on the first floor of the hospital near the main entrance.