HOSPITAL / NURSING HOME STAYS

A recently enacted law has effected the longstanding practice of hospitals and nursing facilities to provide information to churches about parishioners who are patients / residents.

Because of that new law, the priests and the staff in the Parish office may not promptly learn, or may not learn at all, that a member of the Parish has been admitted to hospital or nursing facility.

If you, or a member of your family, are hospitalized (or entered a long-term care facility or assisted, independent living or residential facility) and you want the Parish office to know, please personally, ( or through a friend or family member ) contact the office promptly and identify the patient/resident, the hospital (nursing facility) and the room number.

Because all area hospitals (nursing facilities) may not have the same policies allowing the priest of the parish to know when member are patients, direct notice to the Parish from you or a family member is a better approach. If the Parish office does not receive word, the priest will do his best to obtain information about parishioners, but hospitals (nursing facilities) are limited in their opportunity to give information out.