PORT ST. JOE, Fla. – Sacred Heart Hospital on the Gulf is hosting an information session on Tuesday, Aug. 10 at 11 a.m. to introduce a faith-based community nursing initiative to the Port St. Joe area. Cheryl Piling, Registered Nurse and Community Wellness Outreach Manager for Sacred Heart Health System, will provide an overview of the Faith Community Nursing Program.

“Local churches do a great job ministering to the spiritual needs of their members,” said Jeff Ryan, Chaplain at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Gulf. “The Faith Community Nursing Program is a way to extend the ministry to the physical needs of the congregation.”

Formerly known as Parish Nurse Programs, Faith Community Nursing Programs are common throughout the United States. To be successful, the program requires the support of a pastor, a registered nurse with an active license, and a congregation’s commitment to supporting the holistic health of the community. The program helps provide free health screenings, patient advocacy, health education seminars, support groups, and guidance on healthy lifestyles choices.

Sacred Heart Hospital on the Gulf, a 25 bed hospital, opened its doors to patient care on March 15. The new hospital features 24-hour emergency care, inpatient services, surgical services, a full component of diagnostic and laboratory services, and a helipad to be used by Sacred Heart’s regional air ambulance service to provide rapid transport of trauma or critically ill patients. The hospital recently introduced outpatient infusion services and pulmonary function testing. 

For more information about the Faith Community Nursing Program or to join the information session, please call Chaplain Ryan at (850) 229-5799. For more information about Sacred Heart, visit www.sacredheartonthegulf.org.
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