©2009 NPT PHOTO DUAY O'NEIL

Linda Mulford is the new chaplain at Baptist Hospital of Cocke County. She assumed her duties
on August 10.

NEWPORT-Baptist Hospital of Cocke County has a new chaplain.

Linda Mulford finished the first month of her work on Thursday, September 10, and divides her time between the Newport hospital and St. Mary's Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Jefferson City.

Currently she works in Newport on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

"Listening is what a chaplain does," said Mulford, in explaining her job description. "I focus on the patients, their families, and the staff, and try to help them understand what is going on with their illness and God's place in it. Prayer is very important. I always offer to have prayer with the patients and their families."

She also works with patients and families in ER and offers support to families who have lost loved ones.

"Sometimes I simply get in touch with their family minister for them," she explained.

Hospital staff members also benefit from Mulford's work.

"Losing a patient is also difficult for them," she said. "I try to help facilitate the families as they begin their grieving process in as healthy a manner as possible."

Mulford looks at her work as providing a listening ear to those in need. "I try to determine where the patient and the family are and then bring God into the situation and to help them acknowledge God's presence."

Mulford, a Kentucky native, received her chaplaincy training at Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee.

She first studied at Georgetown Baptist College, an institution she describes as "a sister school to Carson-Newman."

She then earned her Masters of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville in December, 1991.

She worked at BHET for two years, beginning in 1991, and moved to St. Mary's Health Systems as a chaplain in 1995.

She has also worked with St. Mary's Hospice and as a chaplain in several nursing homes.

In 2006, she became a part-time chaplain for St. Mary's Jefferson Memorial Hospital.  "I'm sort of like a circuit rider for the group," she said.

Since coming the BHCC, Mulford has started a morning devotional program. "This is a brief time with Scriptures and prayers via the intercom," she explained. "We have different hospital employees helping with that."

By mid-September, working with BHCC volunteer coordinator Gillian Capperelli,  she will have trained seven employees who will visit patients on a daily basis. She is also working closely with area ministers to form a core group of area chaplains who will respond to emergency crises at the hospital when she is unable to be there.