Medical Professional Archives - Rest Ministries - Chronic Illness and Pain Support

What Does A Patient’s Dream Medical Office Look Like?

November 7, 2012 By admin 9 Comments

Have you ever walked into a medical office and thought, if I see one more waterfall or People magazine I am going to scream? WEGO Health asks for their daily writing challenge “if you could, how would you redesign a medical office?" Day #7. Lisa Copen The medical office. The exam room. The hospital. Oh, how we would like to get our decorator's ideas out at some of those places where we spend so much time. I asked some of you what your dream medical office would look like and some of your answers were the exact opposite of one another. For example, some of you liked the water fountains found in many offices, others of you said you hated those. Maybe you have heard too much water trickling right before painful procedures and its … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Doctor, Founder's Blog, Medical Professional, Organizing, This is Me, What's New?

What I’d Like to Tell The Pastor About Living with Illness

April 13, 2012 By admin 14 Comments

If you had the opportunity to sit down and really share about your pain, what would you tell the pastor of your church about your chronic illness and daily pain? Lisa Copen Living with chronic illness is lonely. Everyone around us seems to be enjoying health, happiness, and the ability to at least pursue their dreams. But many of us feel lonely, scared, and disappointed. We are faced with so many insecurities and we are living with an illness that we have not been able to pray away, cry away, or confess away. So we turn to our church for guidance, for acceptance, for unconditional support during the most difficult time in our life. But churches are made up of people—all of us imperfect. And our church does not always give us … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Caregiver, Church Leader, Depression, Explaining Illness, Friend Has Illness, HopeKeepers Resources, Hurt Feelings, Loneliness, Medical Professional, Need to Know, Parent of Ill or Disabled Child, Person w/ Illness, Person w/ lll Spouse, Share Your Story, Spiritually Struggling, Support Group Leader, Teen w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: care pastor, Christianity, Chronic, Chronic pain, Church, church disabilities ministry, Conditions and Diseases, Congregational, congregational care, Denominations, disability ministry, Disabled, disabled ministry, disablity, God, Health, Illness, Jesus, Joni Eareckson Tada, joni erickson tada, joni tada, Lord, Online Communities, parish, parish nurse, pastor, pastoral care, pastors, Prayer, Religion and Spirituality, Rest Ministries, small groups, Stephen Ministries, stephen ministry

New Thinking About Suicide Blog Offers Eternal Hope

March 30, 2012 By admin 6 Comments

A few months ago a friend of mine, Linda Evans Shepherd, announced to our group of Christian women writers that she was starting a blog specifically to reach out to those who were considering suicide. I have to say that anything Linda touches is done well and with complete passion and heart behind it. Her most recent web site, Finding God Daily, has a wonderful collection of articles about all the places we can find God! But would I be able to make a commitment to write an article or two a month about suicide? What do I know that may encourage someone else? And I just have a Bachelor's degree in Sociology, while many of the writers are professional counselors. But then I got an email from someone at Rest Ministries pouring her heart … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Announcements, Caregiver, Church Leader, Depression, Fear, Founder's Blog, Links, Medical Professional, Need to Know, Person w/ Illness, Spiritually Struggling, Suicidal Thoughts, Support Group Leader, Teen w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: Assisted suicide, Christian, chronic pain and suicide, considering suicide, do you go to heave if you commit suicide, end my life, God, how to commit suicide, lisa copen, Mental Illness, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Psych, Rest Ministries, San Diego, stop the pain, Suicidal Thoughts, Suicide, suicide statistics, taking my life, thinking about suicide, wednesdays and suicides

Q/A: How Do I Get A Doctor Who Will Listen?

February 6, 2012 By admin 3 Comments

Looking for a doctor who will listen, accept the challenges of your illness and stick with you? You are not alone in your search for a doctor who will fight for you. Have you had the experience of one doctor passing you off to another, and that one to another, and no one really wanting to "own" you as a patient? For a while I have felt I was the ball in a game of ping pong between my general practitioner and a specialist, each telling me to see the other. Currently, as new issues develop, I have become a "hot potato." My question is, what do you do to get doctors to listen and stop passing the buck? I am looking for suggestions beyond basics of talking to doctors. One thing I am finding helpful lately is to pray earnestly and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Advocacy, Articles, Doctor, Help! Q/A, Medical Professional, What's New? Tagged With: communicate with doctor, doctor relationship, how to get your doctor to listen, list for doctor, patient tips, tips for doctors, when is it time to find a new doctor

What To Do For Those Who Are Hurting When You Don’t Know What To Do

November 17, 2011 By admin 3 Comments

As the holidays approach more people than usual are looking for ways to reach out to help a hurting friend. Sadly, this shouldn't be a seasonal event, but something we do all year round. But most people just don't know how to do that reaching out! Well, thanks to a wonderful book we don't have that excuse any longer! One of my all-time favorite books is The Art of Helping: What to Say and Do When Someone is Hurting by Lauren Littauer Briggs. In fact, I am very honored to have a section in it for those with chronic illness. But the whole book is helpful for those of us who, well, care. And it is one of the few books I believe should be on the desk of every pastor and church secretary! So much so that when it was first published we … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Books, Caregiver, Caregiving, Church Leader, Friend Has Illness, Holidays, Medical Professional, Need to Know, Person w/ lll Spouse, Support Group Leader, What's New? Tagged With: cae-giver, Caregiver, depressed about loss of pet, Family, how to help a firend, reaching out, when a friend is hurting, when a friend is ill

Assisted Suicide Due to Pain of Illness and How It Fits With Our Belief in God

June 15, 2011 By admin 2 Comments

Lisa Copen The facts are frightening. According to American Medical news 51 people died under Washington's assisted-suicide law in 2010, the 1st full year of this law. They were provided with a lethal medication prescribed by a physician. As one who lives with a chronic illness and daily chronic pain, I understand how difficult it can be to get up and face each day when every part of your body aches and no one seems to have any answers. I also am wise enough to know that I have not experienced the kind of darkness that many have. . . yet. I have no doubt that just as many Christians go through "a dark night of the soul" as the darkest depression is described, those with illness surely have some days when they awake and wonder if it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Advocacy, Articles, Medical Professional, Suicidal Thoughts, What's New? Tagged With: Assisted suicide, End-of-Life, Euthanasia, God, oregon, Robert D. Orr, Terminal illness, United States

The Museum Of disABILITY Is An Interesting Place to Visit

June 2, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

Daniel J. Vance I recently happened upon a delightful surprise. While planning for a family vacation, I learned of an interesting tourist attraction: The Museum of disABILITY History in Buffalo, New York. "The museum is the result of the desire of Dr. James M. Boles," said 51-year-old Doug Platt, museum curator, in a telephone interview. "Boles was teaching an introduction to developmental disabilities course at University of Buffalo and wanted to direct his students to a website for a comprehensive look at how people with disabilities have been treated throughout the ages. There wasn't one. That's how the museum was born, in 1998." Boles also was president/CEO of People Inc., a New York nonprofit providing employment, residential, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Events, Hobbies-Crafts, Links, Medical Professional, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: daniel vance, disabilities, Disability, Disabled, Employment, Health, John Elder Robison, Museum of disABILITY History, People Inc, Temple Grandin

What Do Patients Really Want From Their Doctors?

April 15, 2011 By admin 2 Comments

A recent study has proven what we-as patients-want, and it won't come as any surprise: more communication! 90% of patients said they want their doctors to listen to them; only 25% wanted a prescription, and 60% wanted an examination (Southampton University in UK). Previous research from the University of Connecticut has shown that the effectiveness of drugs depends largely on the relationship and amount of time doctors spend with the patient. The longer the consultation, the more effective the medications. We asked some of you what you want and the answers may leave you nodding in agreement more than surprise. That he have more time to spend with me to thoroughly answer my questions. When he's rushed I feel pressured and afraid to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Medical Professional, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: australia, Chronic pain, Marsha, Medicine, Ontario, Patient, Southampton University, University of Connecticut

Chaplain Links and Publications

March 16, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Other Chaplaincy Links of Interest American Association of Pastoral Counselors AAPC is evolving into a more diverse professional organization serving within an increasingly complex world. Our members now represent a broader spectrum of theological and spiritual traditions and work among a wide variety of health care providers and settings. American College of Physicians Home Care Guide for Advanced Cancer An excellent resource for chaplaincy caregiving for those undergoing cancer treatments, through all the processes from grieving, to symptoms of treatments, respite, death, etc. Great resources for the chaplain to utilize to be there for the entire family. COMISS Network: The Network on Ministry in Specialized Settings A network … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Caregiver, Caregiving, Church Leader, Links, Medical Professional, What's New? Tagged With: academic, association of professional chaplain, chaplain, chaplain jobs, chaplaincy, chaplian, Christianity, Chronic Illness, God, hospice chaplain, hospital visitation, Mental Health, military chaplain, pastoral care, Religion and Spirituality, United States, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Specialized Chaplaincy Organizations

March 9, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

Specialized Chaplaincy Organizations Corporate Chaplains of America (CCA) The organization employs full time, long term, career chaplains who combine workplace experience with professional chaplaincy training. In addition to holding seminary level or higher degrees, all chaplains will pursue certification through 154 hours of continuing education within the first year of tenure. Federation of Fire Chaplains The purpose of this organization is to bring together individuals and groups who are interested in providing effective chaplaincies for fire service organizations. Its members exchange and share ideas and concerns that influence the quality of life of all members of the fire service and their families. International Conference of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Caregiver, Caregiving, Church Leader, Links, Medical Professional, Support Group Leader, What's New? Tagged With: academic, association of professional chaplain, chaplain, chaplain jobs, chaplaincy, chaplian, Chronic Illness, Don't Ask Don't Tell, God, hospice chaplain, hospital visitation, military chaplain, Pentagon, Robert Gates, United States, United States armed forces, United States Corps of Chaplains

Denominational and Hospital Chaplaincy Resources

March 2, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Denominational Chaplaincy Resources The Assemblies of God Chaplaincy Ministries The mission of AG Chaplaincy is to reach people in specialized settings through extraordinary ministries that are biblically based, compassionate, and transforming. The National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) This a professional association for certified chaplains and clinical pastoral educators who participate in the healing mission of Jesus Christ. We provide standards, certification, education, advocacy and professional development for our members in service to the Church and society. National Association of Evangelicals Commission on Chaplains National Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC) A professional organization for Rabbis, Cantors, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Caregiver, Caregiving, Church Leader, Links, Medical Professional, What's New? Tagged With: academic, association of professional chaplain, California, chaplain, chaplain jobs, chaplaincy, chaplian, Chronic Illness, God, hospice chaplain, hospital visitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jews, military chaplain, Professional association, Rabbi, Religion and Spirituality, United States

Chaplain Associations and Resources to Serve the Chronically Ill

February 23, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

The chaplain can serve in many specialized ministries. Whether you are a fireman chaplain, a military chaplain, or a rodeo chaplain, there is a profession out there for you and a professional association to support you in your work. What is a chaplain? Webster’s dictionary defines a chaplain as “a member of the clergy officially attached to a special group.” Regardless of if you're searching for information on how to become a chaplain or more resources like a basic session on ethics in healthcare for chaplains, we hope you can find it here through our resources and links. Chaplain Associations Association of Professional Chaplains An interfaith professional pastoral care association of providers of pastoral care endorsed by … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Caregiver, Caregiving, Church Leader, Medical Professional, What's New? Tagged With: academic, association of professional chaplain, chaplain, chaplain jobs, chaplaincy, chaplian, Christ, Christian, Chronic Illness, God, hospice chaplain, hospital visitation, Jesus, military chaplain, Professional association, Religion and Spirituality