{"id":14,"date":"2011-06-16T11:19:26","date_gmt":"2011-06-16T15:19:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mastonjackson.com\/wordpress\/?p=14"},"modified":"2011-06-29T08:45:31","modified_gmt":"2011-06-29T12:45:31","slug":"how-to-make-a-meaningful-hospital-visit-in-10-minutes-or-less","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mastonjackson.com\/?p=14","title":{"rendered":"How to Make a Meaningful Hospital Visit in 10 Minutes or Less"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-64\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mastonjackson.com\/how-to-make-a-meaningful-hospital-visit-in-10-minutes-or-less\/hospital-icu\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-64\" title=\"hospital ICU\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mastonjackson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/hospital-ICU1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"639\" height=\"324\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mastonjackson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/hospital-ICU1.jpg 639w, https:\/\/www.mastonjackson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/hospital-ICU1-300x152.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 639px) 100vw, 639px\" \/><\/a>I find that hospital visits can be some of the most challenging yet rewarding opportunities for ministry. \u00a0The few minutes that I get to spend with those who are hospitalized is a reminder to them of God&#8217;s love and the power of his healing hand. \u00a0While this ministry is necessary and crucial to the life of the local church, it is by its very nature time consuming.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\">If several patients are located in\u00a0multiple\u00a0hospitals spread across the city, the drive time alone can turn into hours. \u00a0I had to find a way to make the best use of the time <em>in the hospital room<\/em>. Here is one way to make a meaningful hospital visit in 10 minutes or less.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><strong>A 10 minute hospital visit begins with a phone call.<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\"> Good information can save you a lot of time.  If you work with an assistant, have him\/her call the hospital ahead of time and verify that the person you are going to see is still there and the room number.<\/span><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\"> <\/span><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\">A text message or email to your phone with that information is invaluable. \u00a0If you operate better with pen and paper, make a note of some kind. \u00a0I can promise you that phone calls during the drive to the hospital will mess with your memory.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><strong>Familiarize yourself with the hospital layout.<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\"> This is one of the things that I accomplish as quickly as possible upon arrival in a new city.  You do not want to be confused with directions to the hospital, where to park, or which entrance will be put closest to the Unit where you are needed at 2 o\u2019clock in the morning.  At 2 a.m., the news will not be good and you had better get there quickly.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\"><strong>Remember your <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">SLIPPR<\/span> (pronounced \u201cslipper\u201d)<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>S<\/strong><\/span>ympathize \u2013 Express your heartfelt concern for their condition.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;\"><p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\">\u201cI am so sorry to hear of your illness, injury, surgery, etc.\u201d <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote style=\"margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;\"><p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\">\u201cWe\u00a0have already been praying for you.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>L<\/strong><\/span>isten \u2013 Give them an opportunity to tell you what they wish to tell.  \t\t\tDepending upon the person, this may be detailed or incredibly brief. <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;\"><p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\"> In \t\t\tany case, <strong>listening well is listening intently<\/strong>.  Most people can tell when \t\t\tyou are somewhere else in your head. <\/span> <span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\"> Listening says, \u201cI genuinely care.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>I<\/strong><\/span>nquire<\/span><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b; font-style: italic;\"> \u2013<\/span><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\"> Ask a couple of clarifying questions.  It will help you remember \t\t\tbut it will also help them be confident that you are listening.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;\"><p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\">Ask if there \t\t\tare any needs or concerns that you or others might fulfill. <\/span> <span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\">Ask about their \t\t\tcondition, how they are feeling, or if they know when they will be \t\t\t\tdismissed to go home if they have not already told you.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>P<\/strong><\/span>ray \u2013 Express your thanks to God for them. <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;\"><p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\">Detail in prayer your appreciation for \t\t\tthem and what they mean to you personally. \u00a0Ask God to heal and bless them.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>P<\/strong><\/span>lan \u2013 Give them an idea of when, where, or how you will be in contact \t\t\tagain. <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;\"><p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\">\u201cWould you please give us a call in office if you are dismissed \t\t\ttoday?  Otherwise I\u2019ll see you tomorrow, Tuesday, in the morning, etc.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote style=\"margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;\"><p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\"> Leave them looking forward to another visit.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>R<\/strong><\/span>eport \u2013 Call your assistant as you leave and give him\/her any \tinformation that may need to be forwarded to others. This call also facilitates \ttimely update of the Church Prayer List.<\/span><\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #4b4b4b;\">Do you have a technique that has served you well?  I want to hear about it!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I find that hospital visits can be some of the most challenging yet rewarding opportunities for ministry. \u00a0The few minutes that I get to spend with those who are hospitalized is a reminder to them of God&#8217;s love and the power of his healing hand. \u00a0While this ministry is necessary and crucial to the life [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[9,20],"class_list":["post-14","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shepherding","tag-hospital","tag-how-to","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mastonjackson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mastonjackson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mastonjackson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mastonjackson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mastonjackson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/www.mastonjackson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":280,"href":"https:\/\/www.mastonjackson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14\/revisions\/280"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mastonjackson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mastonjackson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mastonjackson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}