An isolated rural community-based hospital committee faces severe financial chal

Question

An isolated rural community-based hospital committee faces severe financial challenges and difficulty recruiting physicians. So a committee has been formed to explore the option of becoming part of a large Adventist or Catholic health system to get out of the personnel and financial difficulties. These larger health systems have more success in negotiations with HMOs, insurance companies and medical equipment companies, as well as a larger pool of physicians.

You have been selected to serve as a member of the exploration committee. You attempt to familiarize yourself with the teachings of the Adventist church regarding Sabbath observance and dietary restrictions that would impact a hospital's operations; and with the teachings of the Catholic church regarding birth control, contraception, tubal ligation, and abortion, that would impact available patient services. You also try to understand the possible positive impact of a faith-based Christian hospital on the care of patients and on the environment in the hospital.

In your two-part report

(A). Describe the changes that would likely be made in your community hospital and the impact on employees and the services offered to the community were it to be absorbed into a regional Seventh-day Adventist healthcare system. (15 pts.)

(B) Describe the changes that would likely be made in your community hospital and the impact on employees and the services offered to the community were it to be absorbed into a regional Roman Catholic healthcare system. (15 points)

Explanation / Answer

A] Seventh -day Adventists Healthcare System is a non-profit health care system that is run by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. This is a Protestant healthcare provider founded in 1973.

Their philosophy is " extending the healing ministry of Christ " and adhere to the faith based model called CREATION Health. Based on their philosophy, the likely changes would be--

* The healing process would not only include physical wellbeing but also the healing of the mind and spirit. So, besides employing doctors , they would also have councellors and faith -healers in the hospital.

* There would be a Sabbath atmosphere for staff and patients.

* They would schedule elective diagnostic services and therapies and will avoid routine business on Sabbath. So, there will be a relaxed atmosphere on every Sabbath day.

* The diet regulations would be strict i.e eating meat would be discouraged but eggs and milk products would be encouraged [ ovo-lactovegetarian diet] .

* Use of alcohol and tobacco will be strictly prohibited within the hospital premises. Also, people will be discouraged from their use and intake.

* The hospital will follow the philosophy of control of appetite.

* Drugs, other than those necessary for treatment of any disease would be strictly prohibited.

* Since the philosophy of Seventh Day believers is that every individual is unique and is free in body and soul, the doctors and other hospital staff would be instructed to treat each patient as a unique and important individual.

* The personal dignity of every patient would be maintained and all kinds of moral and spiriyual support would be given to the family and the patient who has no hope of life.

* The hospital would strictly adhere to the laws of the state where it is operating.

* Not only treating patients, the hospital employees would be encouraged to involve the entire community in the services they provide.

* Based on the teachings of Christ, love, compassion , understanding, care and an atmosphere of freedom and comfort will be the essence of the hospital -- for both, the staff and the patients.

B] The Roman Catholic Church is the largest non-government healthcare provider in the world. Their belief is that Jesus Christ is their founder and His instruction is to heal the sick. " The care of the sick is to be placed above and before every other duty , indeed as if Christ was being directly served by waiting on them" -- says the Benedictine rule. However, they consider religion as above medicine and the priest above the doctor. In other words , prayers are better healers than medicine .So, in hospitals run by the Roman Catholic halthcare system more emphasis will be laid on religion rather than on treatment.

* The hospital will inculcate total service to the sick by its staff.

* Each patient will be considered as a representative of Christ and any service to the patient would be considered as a service to Christ.

* The hospital will discourage ligation or any other form of birth control as their philosophy is that life is a gift from God and humans have no business to interfere with nature.

* Abortions will be strictly prohibited following the philosophy that if man can not give life, he has no right to take it away.

* As a result, facilities like abortion, eutanasia [ choice of death for patients suffering from incurable and painful diseases] will not be provided in the hospital. Likewise , no contraceptive methods eg. ligation, tubectomy or insertion of copper-T etc will be provided here.

* The hospitals will not provide IVF technique of bearing babies for mothers who cannot concieve normally. Neither will it provide services for surrogacy for women who can not bear children due to any defect in their uterus.

* Special prayers would be a normal feature of the hospital routine. It would be expected that each staff member attends such prayers.

* The hospital will also have priests who would visit the hospital and give sermons to the patiens, especially those patients who are in critical state. The family members of such patients would also be given spiritual councelling to overcome the trauma that they face at the prospect of losing a loved one.

* Any volunteers from the nearby community would be welcome to provide their services in the hospital

* The hospital will have a separate section to provide shelter to the old and homeless, destitutes and mentally challenged people who have been abandoned by their family.

So, while the main motto of the two healthcare systems is the same i.e " Service to man is Service to God " , their way of functioning will be slightly different.

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