Parish Nurse

St. Francis Seraph Parish, along with St. Francis Xavier, and the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains, now offers the services of a parish nurse who is working in the downtown/Over-the-Rhine area.  The Parish Nurse, an employee of TriHealth, divides her time between the downtown parishes and St. Leo’s Parish, North Fairmount.  Her “home base” for the downtown parishes is located at the Sarah Center.

Through the focus on holistic education, counseling and advocacy, parish nurses work with members of church congregations and local communities to improve access to services and awareness of healthy lifestyles.  Parish nurse efforts mean improved chronic disease management, reduced reliance on emergency services, and incorporating integrative practices into everyday life.  Using a broad view of health, the parish nurse creatively pursues opportunities individualized for those they serve.

The job of the parish nurse is to build relationships with others, serve the physical, psychological and spiritual needs of parishioners and community neighbors, and celebrate a joy for life by joining others on the journey toward well-being. Here at St. Francis Seraph Ministries, Parish Nurse, S. Phyllis Kemper, R.N., does just that.

S. Phyllis, serves as a source for reliable health information and, as necessary, makes home, hospital, and nursing home visits. Employed by TriHealth, she provides blood pressure checks, diabetes checks, and assists people in connecting with community resources and services. Through her networking efforts with St. Francis Seraph parish, school, soup kitchen, and Sarah Center, S. Phyllis identifies and visits individuals in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood who have healthcare needs. Her efforts bring about improved chronic disease management, reduced reliance on emergency services, and integrate healthy practices into everyday life.