Mercy chaplain touches lives

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
Sept. 20, 2007

A visit from hospital chaplain Father Richard Sitzmann brightens the day of patient Virginia Kohn.

The Quimby St. John parishioner said, "I have been through a couple of surgeries and I have gotten really down. It really lifts my spirits when he comes to talk to me."

Her talks with the chaplain have increased her faith "a great deal."

"I truly believe in God, but to have someone personally come and talk to you to help build your morale, you can't beat it," said Kohn. "When I do have to come to the hospital, it is always a joy and a pleasure when he comes to talk to me."

As a full-time chaplain for 15 years at Mercy Medical Center-Sioux City, Father Sitzmann, has ministered to people from many parishes and parts of the diocese.

Another patient, Gene Harbeck from Nativity Parish in Sioux City, said he enjoys Father Sitzmann's company. The priest says a prayer with him each time he visits.

Father Sitzmann ministers at the hospital Wednesday through Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. His weekend is Monday and Tuesday.

Each day he receives a list of Catholic patients who he will visit throughout the day - usually a list of more than 40. It indicates their name, age, reason for being in the hospital, number of days they have been there and other information, so Father Sitzmann knows the patient's background.

"For the most part you are dealing with people that want you to be there, appreciate your presence and welcome you," said the priest. "It is a situation where you don't have to worry about being accepted. When people are in need, hurting, sick and in fear, they accept your ministry really well."

He travels all over the hospital visiting patients on different floors.

Father Sitzmann spends about five minutes with each patient - talking and praying. He tries to use humor when appropriate.

To follow hospital guidelines, Father Sitzmann makes sure to wash his hands with soap and water or to use hand sanitizer each time he holds a patient's hand or makes contact with them.

Whether he is able to visit all of the patients on his list depends on the day and the number of emergencies that arise.

"Sometimes I get interrupted by emergency room traumas," he said. "That is my area when I am here. We are the only trauma center in the area and our helicopter ranges 150 miles, so we bring people in from a large area."

He is called to the emergency room when there are Code Reds (accidents) and Code Blues (respiratory and cardiac arrests).

He said the traumas that come in provide the most unique situations.

"The injuries are so varied. The degree of seriousness is varied and the reaction of the families is so varied," said the chaplain. "You have to be ready for anything when you are present at one of the traumas. Sometimes it falls to the chaplain to get a hold of the family and that can present a challenge."

There are five chaplains at Mercy, but Father Sitzmann is the only priest. As a priest he can provide the sacrament of anointing of the sick for patients.

"This is an important way of bringing the healing touch of Jesus to the patient. It is a comfort to the families," said the priest. "Since Eucharist is celebrated here daily, that is a significant contribution that only a priest can provide."

He offers Mass in the chapel at noon. Eucharistic ministers from different parishes distribute communion six days a week, but on Sundays Father Sitzmann distributes communion. He also provides reconciliation when someone requests it.

Another part of the chaplain's job is to make the call to let pastors know when their parishioners are in the hospital. Father Sitzmann said that patients are asked at registration whether they want the call made and most do want their pastor to know.

Throughout the day, he will sit at one of the computers in the hallway to chart the patient visits.

"I make sure that it is on the official chart - visit, prayer and Communion," said the priest. "If there are any special concerns, I can put that in the computer, too. We are part of the official chart."

Nurses let him know if there is a patient in need of support and encouragement.

Not only is he at the hospital during the day, but he also is on night call three times in 14 days.

"We (pastoral care) get called out for deaths, codes and other types of emergencies," said the chaplain. "It is kind of rare that you don't get called when you are on night call. We come in and deal with the families or the patient. We are the liaison between the medical people and the family. We try to keep the family informed about what is going on."

Since this is a specialized ministry, Father Sitzmann has been allowed to stay longer than most priests stay at a parish.

"Not many priests have been in a parish for 15 years. The policy that applies to parish priests does not apply to special ministries," he said. "Every November I indicate to the personnel board whether I want to continue on for another year. I have no plans to discontinue in the near future."