Heroes of Healthcare: Surgical Vascular Intermediate Care Unit
A patient in the Surgical Vascular Intermediate Care Unit at Vandalia Health CAMC Memorial Hospital was saddened to learn that her husband passed away while she was in the hospital.
She asked her children if she could see her husband's body prior to burial and say goodbye; however, the patient was not healthy enough for discharge.
The family reached out to the Director of Spiritual Care who connected them with the Staff Chaplain assigned to CAMC Memorial Hospital.
Chaplain Ken Toler worked closely with the unit manager Charlene Cooper, administration, the nurses on the unit and the funeral home to arrange for the patient's husband's body to be brought to a discreet location at the hospital where she and a few family members could gather for her to say goodbye.
Staff accomplished this while monitoring the patient’s health and safety.
The moment of reunion was both sad and beautiful. It allowed the patient to express her grief in healthy ways and begin the grieving and healing process herself.