The Joint Commission Standards and Privacy Guides as well as various policies at all hospitals guide the release of information regarding the religious census of patients. If you want the parish priests and lay ministers of Communion to visit you, or a family member while in the hospital, you will need to give the hospital the permission to place your name on the religion census. In addition, you must request that your parish is notified of your hospitalization.

Please also see our page: EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION TO THE SICK: HOSPITAL VISITS for more information.