General Questions
Where do clergy park when visiting patients at the hospital?
Clergy are asked to park in the James Street Visitors Parking Garage. Enter and exit the garage from James Street. Parking is free when using the hospital’s clergy identification badge. Take a ticket as you enter the garage. Hand the ticket to the person in the booth at the exit and show them your identification badge. Elevators provide direct access to the hospital from the garage.
Access to the hospital is restricted between 9 pm and 6 am, access. During these hours, please enter the parking garage and hospital using the Duke Street Emergency Medicine Department entrance.
How do I get a hospital clergy identification badge?
To obtain a hospital clergy identification badge, please contact 717-544-5979 and schedule an appointment to have your picture taken. There is no fee for the identification badge.
What are the hospital’s visiting hours?
We offer 24-hour open visitation, with preferred visiting hours from 11 am – 8:30 pm, although specific specialty care units have modified hours. Clergy may visit patients any time, but are encouraged to plan visits when the specialty care units are open to general visitation.
Are clergy notified when a patient is admitted to the hospital?
Patients must give their consent to have the hospital notify their clergy of their admission. When requested, the Chaplaincy Care and Education Department will contact the patient’s clergy. You may request a listing of hospitalized members of your congregation by contacting us at 717-544-5979 during business hours or the Medical Record Services Department at 717-544-5911 weeknights and weekends. Please note that only patients who have given their consent are listed on the religious census.
Can clergy request the hospital chaplain visit hospitalized members of their congregation?
In the event that you are unable to visit hospitalized members of your congregation, you may contact the Chaplaincy Care and Education Department and our staff will visit on your behalf.
Is there a Roman Catholic chaplain at Lancaster General Hospital?
A Roman Catholic chaplain is available weekdays and for emergency sacraments on weekends. Extraordinary Ministers of Communion from local parishes also assist the Catholic chaplain with the daily distribution of Holy Communion. The Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Sacrament of the Sick are available by request.
When is Mass celebrated at Lancaster General Hospital?
Roman Catholic Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 12 pm in the hospital chapel located in the James Street Lobby on the first floor.
Are there devotional aides and spiritual care literature available at the hospital?
The Chaplaincy Care and Education Department has Bibles available in both English and Spanish, the Quran, the Torah, and other spiritual care literature.
Can clergy request a tour of the hospital?
Brief tours of the hospital can be arranged with one of our staff chaplains. Please call the department office at 717-544-5979 to schedule a convenient time for your tour.