HERRIN - Faith plays an important role in the recovery of those suffering from illness. Herrin Hospital Chaplain Brian Harrison said he sees first hand how religion plays a role in the healing process.

Harrison, along with spiritual care leaders at all Southern Illinois Healthcare facilities, will be honored later this month during Pastoral Care Week.

Herrin Hospital will recognize its more than 30 volunteer chaplains, clergy and lay persons with a luncheon. The pastoral team will make rounds throughout the hospital today to offer a Blessing of the Hands for staff who wish to participate.

"Having pastoral care in the hospital addresses the patient's spiritual and emotional needs," Harrison said. "Oftentimes, a patient relies on their faith, especially in times of crisis and physical ailment."

Harrison said those who are spiritually enriched seem to heal faster than those who are not.

"Some patients rely on their faith to cope, to deal with a difficult diagnosis. They draw strength from their faith. We also see faith helps during rehabilitation and recovery," he said. "Therefore, spiritual care is an integral part of the holistic approach to health care."

Thomas Oxman, M.D., in a study at Dartmouth Medical School in New Hampshire, focused on the role religion plays in the health and recovery of elderly people. Oxman studied 232 patients, ages 55 and older, who had undergone open-heart surgery. He found those who drew strength and comfort from their religious faith were three times more likely to survive than those who did not.

Harrison said Herrin Hospital's leadership is supportive of its spiritual care program.

"This is important for both patients and staff," he said. "Spiritual care is important for staff during times of crisis in their own personal lives or in that of their loved ones. And, it's also important in times of celebration. The chaplain or spiritual care provider is seen as a friend, one who is called to walk alongside patients or staff through their journeys of life."

Sister Rachel Castillo of St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro said patients come to the hospital when they are in need of healing.

"They are afraid; their families are emotionally vulnerable and are in need of presence and support. At our SIH hospitals, we provide a holistic approach to healing - not only the physical, but also the emotional and spiritual. The hospital is the sacred house of healing," Castillo said.

"Pastoral care provides the spiritual presence needed for healing," she continued. "We encourage patients to reach out to their ministers, rabbis, etc., and contact them when the patients requests."

Castillo said St. Joseph provides a prayerful presence with morning and evening prayer to focus staff in their ministry.

"We chaplains are privileged to be at bedside. We strive to be present to the medical staff and employees as they minister in stressful situations," she said.

Vern Farnum, chaplain at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, is the newest member of the spiritual care team. He arrived in Carbondale a month ago. Farnum is very appreciative of the 33 volunteer chaplains who provided care at MHC during the four-month search for a new chaplain.

"Chaplains often discover dynamics and issues with patients and their families that are crucial in their care," Farnum said. "When the chaplain enters the room and introduces her/himself, something different happens. Sometimes it is a profound sense of what is holy and sacred; at other times, emotions and feelings might emerge that otherwise go unvoiced."

Farnum said, on every occasion, the chaplain's visit gives the care team another piece of the picture that is the patient and their family.

"This is essential information as hospitals help a patient and family with continuing care needs," he said. "Many people think all that chaplains do is deal with death and dying. While there is a degree of truth to this, our first goal is to help patients, families and staff work through all the challenges of disease and illness."