Can the ministry collaborate to form the "next generation" of sponsors?

In looking to the future of sponsored ministry of Catholic institutions, the formation of future sponsors--both religious and lay alike--is an important issue. As this ministry continues to evolve, and sponsoring groups determine how best to prepare new sponsors, might it not be time to think about how to pool the ministry's collective wisdom on formation? Sponsors act not only in the name of the health care institution (or other ministry) but on behalf of the faith community engaged in continuing the compassionate healing ministry of Jesus. In Catholic ministry, and particularly health care ministry, sponsors carry out their responsibilities through a multiplicity of organizational relationships. Just as structures differ, so too do criteria that guide who will be called to join a sponsoring group. There are several core elements that are incorporated in the majority of sponsor competency sets. Elements identified by a committee of ministry members, and reviewed by hundreds of sponsors and other ministry leaders are: mission oriented, animated, theologically grounded, collaborative, church related, and accountable. If one is looking at the potential for convening dialogues about possible areas of collaboration in formation, these core elements, with examples of how they are lived out, may offer an outline of areas new sponsors might need to learn more about for their personal and professional development. Our Catholic health ministry depends on leaders who can create and steward organizational cultures that incarnate Jesus' healing. The possibilities for collaboration in the formation of future sponsors are endless, but there are challenges. If you are a member of a sponsor body/council/corporate member in Catholic health care, and are interested in nominating potential persons to take part in a representative group that would discuss possibilities for collaboration in sponsor formation, please go to www.chausa.org/sponsorformation and complete all sections of the nomination form.     

Are the flight security measures good for the patients? The "sickurity" problem

Due to the stiffening requirements of security measures at the airports, prevention of air-travel related illnesses have become more difficult. The backlash effects of restrictions (e.g. fluid and movement restrictions) can trigger or even improve pathophysiological processes. The most advanced security check methods, the full body scan, besides ethical and moral considerations, may induce yet unknown pathological processes. We face the similar problem with the traveller, who becomes ill or injured during the trip. In this case, repatriation is often required, which is usually accomplished by commercial airlines. If patient should be transported by stretcher, it is also available on regular flight, but in this case he/she must be accompanied by a medical professional. This solution raises much more security problem: not only the sick person and the medical team, but even their medical equipments and medicines have to be checked. Due to the lack of standardised regulations the security staff solves the problem by various attempts from emphatic approach till refusal. For these reasons, a clear and exact regulation is needed, which must be based upon medical experts' opinion, and should deal not only with the flight security but with the patient's security, as well. This regulation can cease the patients and their medical accompanied persons' to be defencelessness against local authorities and security services. The same is true for handicapped persons. Author suggests solutions for the problem, balancing between flight security and the patient's "sickurity".     

Isn't the heart the source of energy for blood circulation? "The heart doesn't know the basic laws of physics"

For hundreds of years, universal medical practice has depicted the heart to be the central organ, showing the heart's function as the primary source of energy for blood circulation, paying particular importance to the role of the heart valves. At present the generally accepted paradigm: the main force component of blood circulation is the pressure-gradient generated by the working heart. In serious combined illnesses of heart valves, the function of the valve is almost nonexistent. Based on the value of pressure in the chambers of the heart and in the great arteries and veins, blood flows from a place of high pressure to lower pressure, and should work the other way around as well. It is a fact, however, that even in such cases the circulation of blood is directed from the main arteries towards the veins: without the function of the valves--seemingly opposing the basic laws of physics--it keeps its original direction. Therefore we can justifiably infer that it isn't the work of the heart muscle that provides the source of energy for blood circulation. The heart has an essential function in the maintenance of blood circulation: pulse generation. The principal role of the heart is to generate pulses and not pressure.