Good Samaritans Complete Pastoral Care Training Course At The Brooklyn Hospital Center

The Brooklyn Hospital Center’s (TBHC) Pastoral Care Department conferred Pastoral Care Volunteer Certificates on 21 members of the community who successfully completed a six-week training program. The good Samaritans, who received training in visiting, comforting and honoring the spiritual requests of patients, will go on to volunteer at TBHC, and minister to the sick and elderly at other institutions, in the community, or in their congregations.

The certificates were conferred by Rev. John P. O’Leary, Director of Pastoral Care at TBHC, who said that each graduate completed a total of 30 hours of training, including 20 hours of classroom education and 10 hours of supervised patient visitation.

“The only criteria for our Pastoral Care Volunteer Program is generosity, compassion and a conviction that honoring every individual’s spiritual beliefs is a necessary part of patient care,” he said, noting that TBHC’s Pastoral Care Program cares for people of every faith, as well as those who have no religious beliefs or affiliation. “This group of remarkable volunteers met and exceeded our expectations.”

“We are grateful to these big-hearted Brooklynites who give so generously of their time and compassion,” said hospital president and CEO Richard B. Becker, M.D. “We are delighted to welcome them into the TBHC family.”

The Pastoral Care Volunteer Training program covers the full spectrum of issues faced by chaplains in order to effectively address the spiritual needs of patient. Topics include Listening and Responding Appropriately to Patients; Dealing with Illness and Loss; Developing Empathy Rather Than Sympathy; Respecting Every Person’s Faith Tradition; Honoring The Patient’s Agenda; Observing Health and Safety Precautions; and Guidelines for Visiting.

“Our volunteers include members of the clergy, laypeople, and caregivers, all of whom have a desire to comfort the sick and suffering, and to volunteer at TBHC, their community hospital,” said Rev. O’Leary, who added that all candidates are required to present a written recommendation from their Minister, Pastor, Priest, Rabbi, or Imam on the first day of class. “This group reflects the diversity of faiths in our community.”

The Pastoral Care Volunteer Certificate Program is offered twice a year. The next program will begin on February 20, 2010. For more information call the Pastoral Care Department at 718-250-8572 or log on to www.tbh.org.

The Brooklyn Hospital Center:
Founded as the borough’s first voluntary hospital, The Brooklyn Hospital Center (TBHC) has been keeping Brooklyn healthy since 1845. Today, it is a 653-bed teaching hospital, offering basic and specialized medical care, sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic services, cutting-edge technology, and specialized surgery to over 500,000 patients annually. Located in the heart of Brooklyn’s downtown revitalization district, TBHC is a part of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and the Brooklyn academic and clinical affiliate of Weill Medical College of Cornell University. TBHC has fully accredited, independent residency programs in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Family Practice, General Dentistry and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and trains more than 250 physicians each year. For more information, visit www.tbh.org.

The Brooklyn Hospital Center
121 DeKalb Avenue,Brooklyn, NY 11201
Contact: Catherine Derr 718-250-8000

Rubenstein Associates, Inc., Public Relations
Contact: Nadine Woloshin 212-843-8041