IMPORTANT NOTICE:    

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that regulates access to individual Protected Health Information, starting April of 2003.  Now hospitals and other health care facilities are unable to share any information with clergy or other pastoral care visitors, without the consent of the patient.

v    For those anticipating a stay in the hospital, be sure to contact the parish office before your admission.  Once in the hospital, be sure to tell admissions that you consent to having the priest or other pastoral care visitors notified.

v    For unexpected emergencies, family members need to notify the parish office on behalf of the person wanting the priest to anoint them.  After office hours, dial 888-1182-ext. 3008 for the emergency pager number.  A parish nurse will respond and contact the priest.

It is most important to communicate your wishes, since hospital and health care personal can no longer provide churches any information without your permission.