Hero of the Week: The role of the
hospital chaplain during COVID-19
BY ST. BARNABAS HOSPITAL
Chaplain Ruth Diones was
called to a critically ill patient in
the emergency department at St.
Barnabas Hospital when she realized
the patient in the next bed
was gasping for breath in a state
of panic and fi ghting to remove his
oxygen mask.
She gently touched him on the
shoulder to calm him. Quickly, he
relaxed and his intake of oxygen
soon improved.
Chaplain Ruth’s job has
changed dramatically since the
advent of COVID-19. Much of her
day is spent on the phone – either
calling people who have lost family
members to this insidious disease,
or connecting with those
who can’t visit their loved ones because
of the hospital’s no visitors
policy.
“I spoke to one person whose
mother died and he told me the
last words he had with her before
she came to the emergency department
and how hard it was for him
not to be there with her,” she said.
“He was worried about what those
last words meant.”
She is often asked about logistical
concerns they might have in
terms of funeral arrangements
and burial.
She also communicates with
those members of the hospital staff
who have lost family members
or friends and provides employees
with daily spiritual messages
through the hospital’s intranet.
She offers prayers to frontline
staff during huddles in the ER or
OR – where she recently recited
a prayer for Dr. Ronald Verrier,
a beloved surgeon at the hospital
who last week succumbed to
COVID-19.
A hospital chaplain is professionally
trained in pastoral care
to support patients and staff with
spiritual and religious concerns.
BRONX TIMES R 4 EPORTER, APR. 17-23, 2020 BTR
Chaplains have similar skill sets
to social workers, for example,
empathetic listening, but are specially
trained to support belief systems
across faiths and cultures.
They act not only as spiritual
counselors but as advocates for patients
and staff. Research shows
that chaplains infl uence better decisions
about care, improve clinical
outcomes and enhance staff
morale.
It’s a career path that Chaplain
Ruth didn’t start out on. After receiving
a doctorate in educational
psychology, she spent years working
at various educational institutions.
“I was very unhappy and
was looking to fi nd the right place
for me,” she said. Six years ago, she
started working as a chaplain.
It’s a good fi t for her but one that
during this diffi cult time puts her
in harm’s way.
“My family doesn’t want me
going into patient’s rooms, they
want me to work remotely,” she
said. “It’s caused a lot of stress.
But at this time, this is what the
job entails.”
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Chaplain Ruth Diones
Courtesy of St. Barnabas Hospital
Latino Judges Association meet on line
The Latino Judges Association met for their regularly scheduled monthly board
meeting on Tuesday, April 14. Because of the quarantine, they were unable to meet in
person so they met via Zoom.
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