Hospitalizations can be a confusing and stressful experience. So, when your life is interrupted by an illness or accident, addressing your spiritual and emotional needs is an important part of your care. At San Juan Regional Medical Center we are committed to caring for the whole person. Providing spiritual support can take many forms. Sometimes it’s providing hospitality by passing out water, or a warm blanket; other times it’s keeping a family informed, and participating in family meetings to help facilitate care plans or end of life decision making regarding a loved one’s care. Regardless of spiritual, religious or cultural background, the chaplain and volunteers from the Pastoral Care Department provide support to patients and families as they encounter some of the darkest hours in life’s journey.
The spiritual care volunteers do not preach or push their own faith understanding onto their patients, but instead look for ways to compassionately connect with them and build bridges of trust. They collaborate and communicate with their colleagues in providing the best care for the whole person, their families, their loved ones, and our staff. They use the insights and principles of psychology, religion/spirituality, and theology when working with individuals, couples, families and groups to achieve wholeness and health and the best possible outcomes.
If you or a loved one in the hospital is in need of spiritual care, contact your nurse for a referral during regular business hours. After hours and on weekends, chaplains may be on call to respond to specific emergency situations. San Juan Regional Medical Center also has a chapel on the main level, near the Emergency Department, and also meditation rooms on each of the patient floors past the double doors at the end of the hallway in the East Tower.
Meet Our Chaplain
Rev. Linda Stetter
Rev. Stetter received a Master of Divinity, cum laude, from Boston University School of Theology. She has a bachelor’s degree in music and a master’s degree in English, both from Eastern New Mexico University. She is an Ordained Elder in Full Connection with the United Methodist Church. She is also Ecclesiastically Endorsed for Hospital Chaplaincy by the United Methodist Endorsing Agency.
Rev. Stetter has experience serving as a pastor as well as a hospital chaplain. She spent six years in Pueblo, Colorado serving as the Director of Mission Integration and Spiritual Care at St Mary-Corwin Medical Center. She is bilingual in English and Spanish. She grew up in Aztec and is excited to be back in the Four Corners, dedicated to serving patients, families, staff and communities through her purpose as San Juan Regional Medical Center’s Chaplain.