COVID-19 has quickly disrupted every part of our lives, including how we practice our faith. This can be especially challenging for healthcare settings as they uphold a statewide ban on visitors.
The highly contagious nature of COVID-19 requires unprecedented precautions. Metro Health – University of Michigan Health is working to preserve spiritual practices while also honoring an obligation to the lives in our care and the safety of our community.
The matters of clergy access and end-of-life sacraments have been carefully deliberated by Metro Health’s COVID-19 Incident Command team. Metro Health has allowed and continues to allow priests access to administer Viaticum for the dying.
“Metro Health has a long tradition of working with faith leaders,” said Steve Polega, Chief Nursing Officer, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health. “In addition to our hospital chaplain, Metro Health maintains relationships with congregations across the region,” said Polega. “These connections are more valuable than ever in the era of COVID-19, especially as we approach a sacred time of year for people of Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths.”
Metro Health continues to look for more solutions that preserve those human and spiritual connections we all treasure.
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