Caring

Pastoral Care - Welcome

Why we are here
Being in the hospital can be a difficult time for you, your family, and friends.  Whether you are ill or undergoing a medical procedure, you may find strength in sharing your concerns with a chaplain.  We provide compassionate spiritual and emotional support to people of all faiths, or of no particular faith.  Our staff of chaplains are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to patients, families, friends, and hospital staff.

Resident, Yervant Kutchukian, spending time with one of many patients he visits.

Compassionate Spiritual Care
Our staff of multi-faith chaplains are available to help you sort through issues of meaning and value as you face the challenge of hospitalization.  We are confidential listeners and spiritual advisors.  We are here to listen to you, pray with you, connect you with the spiritual resources you may need, and care for your spiritual well-being.  Please do not hesitate to contact us.

How we can assist you
The role of spiritual care in the healing process is widely recognized.  Individuals come to the hospital with their own faith, traditions, and resources.  Hospital stays can be a time of stress and concern for you and your family members.  A chaplain's visit can be a source of reassurance and an opportunity for spiritual reflection.  In conjunction with the Pastoral Care chaplains, we offer several additional services. 

• Spiritual Community

  Employee, Mohammad Ramjan Ali, exhibits Albany Med's multifaith community as he prays in the Marcelle Chapel.

  
  We welcome visiting clergy and other members of your faith community.  It is helpful if you inform your religious leader of your hospitalization; we can assist with this.    
• Holy Communion
  A group of dedicated lay
  Eucharistic ministers from local Catholic churches assist in offering this, along with our chaplains.   
• Baptism
  Chaplains are able to offer Baptism when the need is immediate and critical. 
• Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
  Formerly referred to as "Last Rites," this service is available to Roman Catholic and Episcopalian patients.  Non-sacramental anointing is available to patients of other traditions.   
• Prayer Services

  Interfaith Prayers for Healing Fridays, 12:00pm	Marcelle Chapel D Building, First Floor
  Muslim Jummah Prayer Fridays, 1:00pm	A Building A303

Requesting a Visit
When you are admitted to the hospital, you are given the chance to request a visit from Pastoral Care.  You may also request a visit at any time during your stay.  We can be reached several ways:

• Call the Pastoral Care office at 262-3176 during business hours.
• Leave a message at 262-3176 after hours.
• Ask your nurse to call for a chaplain.
• Urgent needs can be met by paging the on-call chaplain - ask any member of the staff to call for you.

Contact Us
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm
Office Phone: (518)-262-3176

Drop-In Office located in F129 Main Office located in TS201 (Far North West corner of hospital, next to Medical College) On Call Chaplain available 24/7. The Marcelle Chapel is open 24 hours for quiet reflection and prayer.