Written by Religion and Healthcare
If you have lived in the South for any amount of time, chances are that you have heard the phrases “Glod bless you” or “Pray for…” followed by the relevant person or event. It’s a part of the country known as the Bible Belt, and it’s called that for a reason. Religion is at the center of communities, and sometimes there are more churches than you can count in a city.
In fact, churches were once what drove the community around them. They developed schools, hospitals and orphanages. Clergy often doubled as physicians in the early days of the American colonies. Yet over time, this connection has faded as the need for strict regulations arose.
As the church and the healthcare industry continue to distance themselves from one another, one is left wondering where spirituality, and consequently religion, plays into this dynamic.
According to a study published by Mayo Clinics, research has shown that “religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes, including greater longevity, coping skills, and health-related quality of life (even during terminal illness) and less anxiety, depression, and suicide.”
Moreover, by addressing these needs, it has been shown that a patient may recover more quickly. One study determined that 77 percent of patients thought that physicians should take an interest in their spiritual needs, and 48 percent wanted their physicians to pray with them.
It has even been proven that spiritual beliefs can help patients cope with pain. In a questionnaire distributed by the American Pain Society, 76 percent of patients reported using prayer as a method of pain management—more than any other method.
Still others—93 percent—stated that their spiritual beliefs helped them cope with their cancer diagnosis. Of those, 75 percent said that religion had a significant place in their lives according to a study conducted in 1997.
Unfortunately, however, these needs are often not addressed. Which is why at Segue Health, we care for every aspect of a patient’s health: the physical, mental and spiritual. We believe that God is the ultimate healer, and, in the book of Mark, we see evidence of this as Jesus heals the sick through a mere touch of his robes (Mark 5:25-34).
For us, phrases such as “God bless you” and “I’ll be praying for you” are not merely cultural concepts from the Bible Belt, but key components of your recovery with a sincere, earnest meaning behind them.
If you ever wish to speak with someone, our Segue staff would be more than happy to pray with you. Our ministry team is also available to you 24/7 for any and all needs that you may have during this time of recovery.
Religion and healthcare may have drastically diverged over the years, but we believe that the two go hand in hand, and we promise to keep on caring for you and your loved ones.