Roper St. Francis Plans Symposium on Labyrinths in Health Care
March 3, 2011
International Expert Robert Ferre To Lead March 19 Event
CHARLESTON, SC – March 18, 2011 – Studies have shown that providing a labyrinth in healthcare settings can support and enhance the life of the institution and its mission in many ways. That’s why a labyrinth was considered an essential ingredient when the new Meditation Garden at St. Francis Hospital was designed.
To share more information on this topic, Roper St. Francis Healthcare is hosting a “Labyrinths in Healthcare” Symposium March 18 – 19 at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital.
Keynote speaker will be Robert Ferre’, a top international expert with special interest and research on labyrinths in healthcare. For many years, Ferre’ has studied the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Chartres, one of the world’s most sacred sites and on which the labyrinth in the Meditation Garden at St. Francis Hospital is modeled.
“Walking the Labyrinth is a type of ‘moving meditation’ that fits well with our sense of holistic healthcare and sacred space of Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital,” said Mark Dickson, Roper St. Francis Director of Mission. “The upcoming conference will allow those attending to explore the many health and wellness benefits labyrinths offer patients, visitors and hospital workers alike.”
A Candlelight Labyrinth Walk with Music, which is free and open to the public, will kick off the event from 7-8 p.m. on Friday, March 18. Symposium registration begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 19 and will be followed by morning and afternoon sessions, with “Opportunities for Using the Labyrinth in Cancer Care” and “Using Labyrinths with Children” among topics.
Registration is required for the Saturday program, which costs $20 per person and includes a boxed lunch. To register, please call (843) 402-CARE. For information, email Mark Dickson, [email protected].
The Roper St. Francis Healthcare Mission:
Healing All People with Compassion, Faith and Excellence
Roper St. Francis Healthcare is the South Carolina Lowcountry’s only private, not-for-profit health care system. The 657-bed system consists of 90 facilities and services in seven counties. Member hospitals include Roper Hospital, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Mount Pleasant Hospital and Roper Rehabilitation Hospital. Plans to build a hospital in Berkeley County are in progress. Roper St. Francis Physician Partners is a comprehensive network of more than 170 physicians that covers a complete range of primary care and 20 subspecialties.
With more than 5,000 employees, Roper St. Francis Healthcare is Charleston’s largest non-governmental, private employer. Its medical staff includes nearly 800 physicians representing every medical specialty. Ranked #41 among the Top 100 Integrated Health Networks in the nation, Roper St. Francis Healthcare recently earned 96 National Awards recognizing high levels of patient, physician and employee satisfaction. In October 2010, Roper St. Francis was named among Modern Healthcare’s prestigious list of “Top 100 Places to Work.” Roper St. Francis Healthcare was additionally listed among the Top 25 Connected Healthcare Systems in 2010. In 2009, the organization contributed more than 58,015 hours of staff time and $29.6 million to benefit the community, serving nearly 175,000 community.
