Addi­tion­al Care Services

Onslow Memorial Hospital is pleased to provide access to a family-friendly service known as CaringBridge, a free service for our patients and their families. With this easy-to-use service, patients or family members create or "author" their very own Web page and then make updates to the page as they wish. CaringBridge is a wonderful way for families to provide friends and relatives with up-to-date information, as frequently as they are able, and to receive messages and well-wishes from others.

Click here to get started »

Interpreters are available for patients with limited English proficiency and for those who are hearing-impaired.

If you would need an interpreter, please notify staff.

Respecting Beliefs

A patient’s pastor or other clergy members are welcome to visit. If a patient does not have a minister, OMH is happy to provide a volunteer chaplain or literature to assist in meeting the spiritual needs of patients and family.

Our Pastoral Volunteer Committee recognizes the role spirituality plays in the lives of our patients and their families, especially during times of illness, uncertainty, or crisis. Our volunteer chaplains facilitate opportunities for healing through response to the spiritual needs of the patient and family, while also providing a spiritual presence and support for the patient care team and hospital staff.

As part of the professional healthcare team, chaplains minister to persons of all faiths, as well as those who claim no particular faith beliefs.

For those wishing a more anonymous pastoral approach, OMH also offers a PRAYER LINE. From any hospital phone, dial 9-1-800-NOW-PRAY or 9-1-800-669-7729.

For your convenience, a chapel is located just off the main lobby on the first floor, and is open to everyone for quiet meditation and prayer.

Who Calls the Chaplain?

Upon your request, your nurse or a member of the health care team will assist in coordinating a visit or call with the pastoral volunteer on duty. Patients, family members, or friends are encouraged to request a chaplain if they are:

• Anxious, worried, upset
• Feeling angry or frustrated
• Depressed or feeling hopeless
• In need of spiritual strength or guidance
• Fearing the loss of a loved one
• Questioning God, themselves, or their relationships with loved ones
• Unable to cope

What Might a Chaplain Do for You?

• Listen and understand your feelings
• Respect your faith
• Accept you as a person of worth and value
• Offer spiritual support and comfort in a time of crisis and loss

Services Provided

The Pastoral Care Department offers spiritual care and support to patients, families, and staff who request it in the Hospital. Chaplains are specially trained to offer comfort and support to those dealing with crisis, illness, grief, and other care issues.

• Assistance with contacting family clergy
• Sacramental ministries, upon request
• Community resource for end of life planning, death, and dying topics
• Assistance with ethical issues, dilemmas
• Assistance with those struggling with care decisions for loved ones
• Assistance in locating resources for various needs (e.g., Alzheimer’s NC for caregivers)

Community Pastors/Clergy

The Pastoral Care Department welcomes your presence here at the Hospital. We are thankful for the care and support you offer your congregants and their families while they are patients here at our facility. We are here to support your efforts and to offer you the information and assistance you need as you visit members of your congregation.

Application for Clergy

Ordained ministers serving as pastors of local churches can apply serve as a pastoral volunteer by calling Jessica Collins-Hansley at (910) 577-4949 or email at jessica.collins-hansley@onslow.org. Completed applications are usually processed within two weeks. Once approved to serve, you will be required to complete health testing and complete orientation.

For information on our Patient Assistance Program, click here.

At Onslow Memorial, we understand that being admitted to the hospital can be an overwhelming experience. For this reason, Onslow Memorial implemented a Patient Service Navigator program. This program is designed to provide personalized guidance and support for our patients and their families. We want you to focus on your care and recovery, not the process.

The goal of the Patient Service Navigator, PSN for short, is to provide you and your loved ones with individualized assistance during your stay. Our PSN is here to help you navigate the complexities of the healthcare system and access resources that enhance the quality and continuity of your care.

Amber Philyaw

Amber is Onslow Memorial's Patient Service Navigator. She's a valuable resource for our patients and their families. Below are examples of ways she might be able to help you:

• Provide information about the unit or departments involved in your care
• Go over daily schedules/routines
• Enhance communication with your healthcare team
• Emotional support and personalized guidance
• Provide prompt action and response to your concerns, issues, or questions
• Identify barriers to care and solutions to overcome them
• Identify the "right" person in the hospital to assist you with specific needs
• Connect you with appropriate resources to enhance communication, responsiveness, and the plan of care

For more information, or to reach out to the Patient Service Navigator, please call (910) 577-2345 or (910) 577-2534.

It’s said that when an idea “has legs,” it has momentum. In this case, an idea that originated in Onslow’s Spirituality and Wellness committee has the momentum of four legs – and one happily wagging tail. Those legs and tail belong to Callie, a professional therapy dog, officially on staff at Onslow Memorial. The Welcome Waggers Program allows certified therapy dogs to visit patients. Our Welcome Waggers team include the dog's handler and the certified dog. The Welcome Waggers program provides immeasurable support to patients, their families, and our staff throughout the organization.

Benefits of Animal Assisted Activities

The dogs are a welcome distraction and help reduce anxiety that can accompany hospital visits. Welcome Waggers gives patients the opportunity to interact safely with our volunteer dogs and receive their unconditional love and acceptance in the hopes of making the hospital environment more comfortable and less stressful.

Additional benefits of pet therapy are:

• Positive therapeutic experiences that help minimize the stress of the hospital environment
• Reduced anxiety and enhanced coping skills by providing a distraction from illness and hospitalization
• Increased normalization of the hospital experience by making it more "home-like"

Our therapy dog Callie is a 4-year-old, female Shephard/Husky mix. She is certified as a therapy dog through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Callie will be visiting us twice a week. She comes with her owner, Denise. Callie is a beautiful girl with a sweet disposition. She loves to visit with patients and staff.

For get information about a physician referral, click here.