Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center - (Page 54)

SILENCE PCRMC chaplain Phil Cox, Ph.D., discusses his new book about grief—and strength Phelps County Regional Medical Center chaplain Phil Cox, Ph.D., has an easy way and warm smile that make you feel right at home; he also has a newly published book, The Gift of Silence. When not at PCRMC, Cox preaches for a small congregation, writes and enjoys living on his farm. — Somer Overshon COMMUNICATING Q A: The book is essentially about something we all experience in our lifetime—namely, grief and the struggles associated with it. In the time that I’ve worked at PCRMC, I have watched physicians, nurses, staff and family members experience grief. I started journaling and blogging my feelings to help me work through my experiences with grief. Eventually, I selected certain entries to publish, with the hope that my thoughts about the grieving process could help other people, too. How did you come up with the idea for The Gift of Silence? Death is going to happen to us all eventually, so I want people to be able to make plans—spiritual, practical, whatever the case may be. I want them to communicate with their loved ones. Also, I want people to realize how much caregivers are concerned for their patients. Medical caregivers are often affected by their patients; physicians and staff care about losing patients, and take that reality very hard. Q 54 Vim & Vigor · SP R I N G 2 012 Q How do you handle the grief process with family members or medical personnel? A: I hope that people face realities in their lives, even though those realities are not always fun. I want them to talk to their families about their wishes. What do you hope readers take away from your book? A: Many times when people ask me how they are going to get through a loss, I tell them to keep breathing, not to worry about tomorrow. Often, that person will take in a deep breath and say, “OK, I can do that.” I try to help someone focus on that moment, on what he or she is able to do. I stress that I can be as present or as absent HEMERA TECHNOLOGIES

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center
Contents
Opening Thoughts
Auxiliary
Communicating with Care
Patient Care Tops the Charts!
Get Real
How Far We’ve Come
Patient Survival Guide
Perfect Attendance
A New Day
Lean on Me
Intimidated by the Gym?
What Is Your Volunteer Style?
A Prescription for Relief
Virtual Health
SPECIAL: A Commitment to Quality
Communicating Silence
Foundation

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center