Whole-person care goes beyond treating a patient's physical illness; it means providing for the spiritual, emotional and mental needs of patients and their families.

"I'm proud to say that our employees consistently live out our mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ," said Nancy Burke, director of emergency/ambulatory care services at Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital.

Don Alberts is a firm believer in the power of prayer, and he regularly prays for his patients and their families. Last year when Susan Bologna entered the ER with severe abdominal pain, a computerized tomography image (CT Scan) showed a mass in her abdomen; the examining physician told Susan's family it could be a cancerous tumor. As they awaited further test results, Don offered to pray with them.

"When Don came into Mom's emergency room, it was as if Jesus was standing there before us," recalled Susan's daughter, Mary Ann Jordan. "His loving and caring manner, his rock-solid faith and his certain and fervent prayers for my mother instilled such comfort and strength to a family who was already quite emotionally and physically depleted."

The mass was a result of diverticulitis, a condition that develops when pouches known as diverticula form in the wall of the colon. The diagnosis was a relief to Susan's family. A colonoscopy later confirmed the absence of cancer.

"I attribute that directly to Don's timely prayers," Mary Ann said.

Harry Blesy entered Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital's ER complaining of chest pain. An electrocardiogram (EKG) was performed. The retired police officer was found to be in stable condition and was about to be transferred to the cardiology unit.

But ER nurse Karen Hook thought Harry didn't look quite right. She ordered another EKG, which showed a subtle change from the first test. Ten minutes later, a third EKG was performed, showing that Harry was having a massive heart attack. He was rushed to the cardiac catheterization laboratory for a balloon angioplasty and stent insertion. Because of the location and severity of the lesion—more than 98 percent of the artery was blocked—this type of heart attack is colloquially known as a "widowmaker." Very few survive, but Harry recovered. "If not for Karen's gut responsiveness and great teamwork, this outcome could have been very different," said Nancy.

Thomas Stocker was in and out of hospitals his last four years of life. Because he had dementia, his family observed he was often ignored and disrespected by health-care professionals. But that was not the case at Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital, where Thomas passed away. There, according to his daughter Lorraine Liddell, Peder Storandt, an ER nurse, cared for her father with compassion and kindness. Peder also anticipated the needs of Lorraine's family. "Peder would bring us bottles of water so we didn't have to leave the room," Lorraine said.

For Peder, being a nurse is about more than recognizing the signs and symptoms of acute illness and treating patients—it's about connecting with patients and their families.

"If I can offer them a tiny bit of comfort during such a stressful time, I'm glad to do that," he said.

Lisa Parro is a public relations specialist at Adventist Midwest Health.