July 6, 1987
Recorder
13
A DV ENTI ST
Health System/
West
White Memorial concludes
Spiritual Emphasis week
According to Webster’s Dictionary,
a ‘‘neighbor’’ is ‘‘a person living
nearby.’ White Memorial Medical
Center’s recent Week of Spiritual Empha-
sis challenged hospital employees to
reach beyond this definition and to con-
sider a neighbor to be anyone who is
in need.
“Our hospital’s community has an
abundance of needs,”’ says Chaplain
Bruce Nelson. ‘“The logic behind celebrat-
ing such a week was to present some
of these needs and to help show the
many ways in which they may be met.’
According to Nelson, careful plan-
ning took place to include and reach
those with whom the hospital has con-
tact—from employees and their families
to patients and the surrounding com-
munity.
The week began with a special ser-
vice for hospital patients and employ-
ees. The Temple City Children’s Choir
performed musical selections, followed
by a short sermon by Chaplain David
Trapero. Chaplains Nelson, Trapero and
Joseph Yang also traveled throughout
the hospital one day holding depart-
mental worships.
“We really enjoyed the opportunity
to meet with employees on a personal
basis,” says Trapero. ‘‘The day also
gave us the chance to explain our rea-
sons for celebrating such a week, as
well as to invite employees to specific
events.’’
Throughout the week, the hospital
sponsored luncheons where guest speak-
ers addressed the audience about the
concerns of the Hispanic and Asian
communities—minority populations that
White Memorial Medical Center serves.
White Memorial volunteers partici-
pated in the Spiritual Emphasis week
by holding a department open house
for the community.
‘The hospital is able to help its neigh-
bors—the surrounding community—in
a variety of ways,’’ says Nelson, ‘‘but
the Volunteer Department provides a
unique opportunity for the community
to share something with the hospital.’’
A hospital-sponsored evening of sacred
ERR NERY
Rebecca and Stephanie Ramirez enjoy the toys provided for pediatric patients
by volunteers at St. Helena Hospital and Health Center.
music was performed for the community
by Walter Arties, producer and speaker
for television’s ‘‘Breath of Life’’ pro-
gram.
White Memorial administration in-
vited pastors from its constituent churches
to join an administrative prayer break-
fast sponsored by the Chaplain’s office.
The week’s finale, a Friday evening
vesper service, was presented by the
Christian Drama Troupe of the Alhambra
Adventist church. Their program, en-
titled ‘‘A Light from a Tree,’ featured
16 skits providing insights into the devel-
opment of a positive Christian experi-
ence.
The Week of Spiritual Emphasis con-
tinues to have an impact on the employ-
ees who learned more about the needs
of their ‘‘neighbors.”” And now as they
pause to reflect on who this neighbor
is, patients and visitors will benefit,
and White Memorial Medical Center
will continue to change with the com-
munity.
St. Helena volunteers
help children enjoy
their hospital stay
Hospitalized children can now be con-
tented kids, thanks to employees and
volunteers at St. Helena Hospital and
Health Center.
Betty Rhoda, director of the med-
ical/surgical unit, saw too many fright-
ened and bored children in her area.
She knew that toys would make them
happy and keep them occupied while
they were hospitalized. Parents would
also be less tense if their children were
more content in their temporary sur-
roundings.
Rhoda asked the hospital’s volunteer
department if they would purchase toys
for the pediatric patients. The volunteer
board voted to donate funds from pro-
ceeds earned at the Big Oak Gift Shop
and the Acorn Thrift Shop to purchase
toys for the children.
Volunteer Alberta Galleron and Lois
Munday, director of volunteer services,
bought three large plastic bins of wash-
able, non-breakable toys for the pro-
ject.
GAMC rehab center’s
high standards noted
Glendale Adventist Medical Center’s
Rehabilitation Institute has again received
a maximum three-year accreditation by
the Commission on Accreditation of
Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
“Everyone involved in your organiza-
tion can rightfully be proud of this
unique distinction,”’ noted Alan Top-
pel, executive director of CARF, in his
letter commending the Medical Center
on its high standards of performance.
The accreditation followed an intensive
on-site survey earlier this year.
The Rehabilitation Institute is a 44-
bed unit specializing in comprehensive
medical rehabilitation programs for