Where is the Pastoral Services office located?
The office is located in the James Street Lobby on the first floor of the hospital next to the Gift Shop. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Where is the chapel located?
The chapel is open 24 hours a day and located in the James Street Lobby on the first floor of the hospital next to the Gift Shop.
What is the Pastoral Services Department’s telephone number?
717-544-5979
When are chaplains available in the hospital?
Chaplains are available 24 hours a day by pager and can be reached by calling the hospital operator at 717-544-5511 when the office is closed.
Where do clergy park when visiting patients at the hospital?
Clergy are asked to park in the James Street Visitors Parking Garage. The garage can be entered and exited from James Street. Parking in the garage is free when using the hospital’s clergy identification badge. To enter and exit the garage, use the card reader before you get to the booth. Elevators provide direct access to the hospital from the garage.
Between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., access to the hospital is restricted. Please enter the parking garage and hospital using the Duke Street Emergency Medicine Department entrance.
How do I get a hospital clergy identification badge?
To obtain a hospital clergy identification badge, contact the office at 717-544-5979 and schedule an appointment to have your picture taken for the badge. There is a $5.00 fee for the identification badge. Identification badges are made in the Employee Service Center from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
What are the hospital’s visiting hours?
General visiting hours are from 1:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. although specific specialty care units have modified hours. Clergy may visit patients anytime but we encourage you to plan your visits when the specialty care units are open to general visitation.
Specialty Care Units Visitation Hours:
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Cardiac Units (5 North, 5 East, 5 West, 6 East and 6 West): 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
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Intensive Care Unit (2nd Floor) and Intermediate Intensive Care Unit (6 North): Flexible visitation 24 hours (Closed daily 7 – 10 a.m. and 2 – 5 p.m.)
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Mental Health Unit (8 East): Monday - Friday from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and Weekends/Holidays from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
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Rehabilitation Unit (4 West): Monday - Friday from 4:00 – 8:30 p.m. and Weekends from 1:00 – 8:30 p.m.
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Trauma/Neurosurgical Unit (2nd Floor): Flexible visitation 24 hours (Closed daily 8 – 10 a.m. and 7 – 8:30 p.m.)
Are clergy notified when a patient is admitted to the hospital?
Patients must give their consent to have the hospital notify their clergy of their admission. The Pastoral Services Department will contact the patient’s religious affiliation when a request is received. You may request a listing of hospitalized members of your congregation by contacting the Pastoral Services Department at 717-544-5979 during office hours or the hospital operator at 717-544-5511 during weeknights and weekends. Please note that only those patients who have given their consent are listed on the religious census.
Can clergy request the hospital chaplain to visit hospitalized members of their congregation?
In the event that you are unable to visit hospitalized members of your congregation, you may contact the Pastoral Services Department and our staff will visit on your behalf.
Is there a Catholic Chaplain at Lancaster General Hospital?
The Catholic Chaplain is available weekdays and for emergencies. Eucharistic Ministers from local parishes also assist the Catholic Chaplain with the daily distribution of Holy Communion. The Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Sacrament of the Sick are available by request.
When is Mass celebrated at Lancaster General Hospital?
Roman Catholic Mass is celebrated Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 12 p.m. in the hospital chapel.
Are there devotional aides and spiritual care literature available at the hospital?
Bibles should be available in the patient’s bedside drawer. The Pastoral Services Department has Bibles available in English and Spanish. Spiritual care literature is also available in the hospital’s chapel.
Can clergy request a tour of the hospital?
Brief tours of the hospital can be arranged with one of our staff chaplains. Please call the department office at 717-544-5979 to schedule a convenient time for your tour.