Health Ministry Program Reaching Church Communities
“One objective of the Health Ministry Program at St. Alexius is to serve as a resource to area faith communities, helping them to establish volunteer health ministries,” says Shelly Ryberg, R.N., Health Ministry coordinator. “With this program, St. Alexius has taken health care and education outside the expected realm of the hospital, clinic or doctor s office and into area churches.”
The Health Ministry Program is a collaborative project among local churches, St. Alexius and the University of Mary. This partnership promotes the church as a “health place,” encouraging changes in lifestyles to help people live healthier lives. It also helps prepare volunteers to minister to others during difficult times. These volunteers bring emotional and spiritual support to individuals who are lonely or are experiencing personal crisis.
Parish nursing is incorporated as part of a health ministry program. Parish nurses are registered nurses with the skills and expertise to provide assessment or health education, but don’t actually deliver health care. If physical needs are not being met, nurses would make the appropriate referral to secure services. Examples are making referrals to a physician and
arranging for transportation or meal service. Parish nurses serve as health educators, personal health counselors and interpreters of the close relationship between faith and health. Another role of the parish nurse is to coordinate the services of church volunteers.
St. Alexius provides resources for the program including personnel, a resource library, communications, marketing and foundation support. Participating churches give direction to their own programs. Each church needs to determine its unique needs and develop a program to address those specific needs. The churches also promote living and working to enhance health and prevent disease. For more information on Health Ministry, call 530-7070.
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