A Global Project Guide to Start, Develop and Manage Sanitariums

FAQ - ASSA Project Guide

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A: Sanitariums, as described in the Spirit of Prophecy, serve as highly effective bridges to people from all walks of life. However, but they are complex health institutions designed to represent both God and the Church. The concept of a sanitarium is modeled after Jesus’ wholistic threefold ministry and encompasses a range of services that necessitate a diverse and skilled staff:

– Hotel Hospitality/Hospital Accommodation Services: More than just lodging. 

– Food Services/Plant-Based Dietetic Services: Going beyond basic meal provision. 

– Medical Services: Addressing both acute and chronic conditions, with a broader focus. 

– Mental-Emotional Health Services: Including psychology and counseling, but extending further. 

– Religious (Christian) Spiritual/Life Meaning Services. 

– Human Maintenance Resources: Such as counseling and life-long learning (LLL) services. 

– Student Training Programs: Both informal and formal education. 

– Agriculture/Ecological/Food Production Services. 

A sanitarium requires complex staffing

The operation of a sanitarium demands a well-rounded and complex staffing structure, as highlighted in Testimonies, Counsels on Health, and Medical Ministry. Key personnel include: 

  • Physicians – Battle Creek started with a physician, two nurses and a lot of enthusiasm
  • Nurses
  • Physical therapists, Therapists
  • Dietitian
  • Administrator/s, manager/s
  • Chaplain
  • Counsellor, Psychologist
  • Chef/cooks
  • Matron, Educators
  • Maintenance, grounds, auto
  • Other personnel etc.

The Essential Role of Physicians and Nurses in Sanitariums

A sanitarium requires a high level of medical knowledge and competency, necessitating highly qualified physicians and nurses to provide complex, integrated, and up-to-date services. Healthcare institutions are places where diagnoses are made and treatments—both natural/lifestyle and allopathic—are prescribed or adjusted. Therefore, the presence of physicians is essential.

Sanitariums are unequivocally healthcare institutions; they are places where diagnoses must be provided or clarified, and treatments need to be prescribed. Consequently, sanitariums require physicians on staff and must align with local and national public health regulations. For these reasons, it is crucial that sanitariums employ qualified, licensed physicians and nurses.

It is important to distinguish sanitariums from health retreats, health camps, wellness retreats, spa-like activities, and non-residential depression recovery programs. While these ministries can serve as powerful outreach tools also, they do not qualify as Sanitariums.

The Seventh day Adventist Church developed the Sanitarium concept more than 150 years ago, as a replica to the ill-fate hospitals of the XIX century, in a conscientious effort to set curative Adventist Health Institutions on a solid, evidence-based foundation. Well into the confusion of XXI Century, mainstream wellness and lifestyle medicine are copiously blended with mystical Eastern religion and philosophies. In this context, the Adventist Sanitarium concept is worth reclaiming!

A: Our level of medical competency determines the scope of our work

A very important aspect of this guide is the emphasis on connecting our mission/vision with our level of competency. Sanitarium work in the XXI century require a certain level of management competency, certain level of medical staff competency and professionalism, whether the San will be located near a multimillion city in Asia, Africa or in Europe. That means specific training and part of the training is studying the laws of health and life.

Please observe the larger context in which the idea that “natural means, used in accordance with God’s will, bring about supernatural results.” Here is the quotation under the subtitle “ May Appear as Natural Course”

“Natural means, used in accordance with God’s will, bring about supernatural results. We ask for a miracle, and the Lord directs the mind to some simple remedy. We ask to be kept from the pestilence that walketh in darkness, that is stalking with such power through the world; we are then to cooperate with God, observing the laws of health and life. Having done all that we possibly can, we are to keep asking in faith for health and strength. We are to eat that food which will preserve the health of the body.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 938, 939. (2 SM 346)

There is plenty of knowledge God revealed through various scientists during the last 150 years so we need to study Anatomy, Physiology, Pathophysiology, Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology, Hygiene and Public Health, Preventive Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Lifestyle Medicine etc….all of these are part of God’s reveled laws of health, health recovery and life.

That requires the Sanitarium founders to have those competencies (certified physicians, nurses, PTs) or to make sure they team up with dedicated Adventist health professionals who have those competencies. Working near and for big cities is different than working in a bush clinic where you might be called occasionally to go beyond your competencies to save lives or prevent deterioration of life-threatening conditions.

A: The Health Message is one of the greatest gifts God has given to His end-time Church. Because of the immense potential in the Adventist Health Message and medical missionary work, the enemy continually seeks to counterfeit this message and its work. This is why he targets this area as his preferred playground for fanaticism and extremism. He constantly attempts to hijack Adventist Health Ministries and the Health Message! This is his most effective way to undermine any health reform and institutional work that God intends to establish.

It’s no surprise that after the so-called “medical missionary work” brings disgrace to the mission and the Adventist Church, some members are reluctant to hear about it anymore. In certain countries, the term “medical missionary work” is problematic because it automatically carries the connotations associated with physicians and nurses. Therefore, we need to be wise about how and where we use this term. As a general rule, we should be sensitive about its use outside our ranks.

One of the biggest challenges to “medical missionary work” and missionary activities in general comes from presumptuous Adventists, who tend to do two things:

  1. Offer services that exceed their level of competence, especially when acquiring those competencies is within reach.
  2. Provide questionable, unverified, fraudulent, or misguided practices and therapies that current science and the Adventist Church deem unacceptable under any circumstances. This also includes holding and promoting extreme, bizarre views not based on established anatomy, physiology, or pathophysiology.

Church administrators are responsible for protecting the Church and do not want the Adventist Church and its members to be labeled as quacks or associated with quackery. Today, quackery is often synonymous with health fraud, and none of us should bring such disrepute upon the Adventist Church and its inspired Health Message!

With the wealth of knowledge available to us, let’s remain true to our calling and always operate within our competencies. In the section Principle 2, there is a graph called The Spectrum of Adventist Healthcare Ministries. The first three columns describe entry level of activities which all Adventists can choose from, and which require no formal professional. Thus, there are numerous ways each Adventist can engage in health ministry while

With the vast wealth of knowledge available to us, let’s stay true to our calling and consistently operate within our competencies. In the ASSA Project Guide section titled “Principle 2,” there is a graph named “The Spectrum of Adventist Healthcare Ministries.” The first three columns outline entry-level activities that all Adventists can engage in, which do not require formal professional qualifications. Thus, there are numerous ways for each Adventist to participate in health ministries while staying within their level of competency and skill set.

A: The requirements for room size, bathroom dimensions, and treatment space are designed with both universal human and health comfort standards in mind, as well as the spiritual outreach component that impacts these spaces. For instance, when the Herghelia Institute in Romania opened the Lifestyle Center in 1996, financial constraints and a scarcity mindset resulted in undersized rooms and bathrooms. After ten years of operation, rising patient expectations necessitated a complete renovation of the interior, including the demolition of bathroom walls to accommodate larger bathrooms. Due to the limited size of the rooms, we could only expand the bathrooms by 15 cm in two directions, using thinner walls to fit a suitable space. We could have saved the cost of renovation if we had built it right from the beginning.

It is crucial to prevent the need for complete renovation after several years of operation by ensuring that we get it right from the start! As mentioned previously, standards and expectations in major cities around the world, whether in Africa, Asia, or South America tend to align more closely with Western standards. Therefore, we are justified in adhering to high comfort standards, as we must correlate with the best similar services offered in these metropolises.

A: There are countries with many cities in population of over 1 million and it would be beneficial to start Sanitariums near each such city. However, as stated again and again, Sanitariums are complex institutions and cannot be establish “playing by ear”, cannot start on somebody’s backyard because he is willing to open his house to such a thing. This is the reason why in bigger countries where there isn’t a successful model of an already-functioning Sanitarium, we advise having the smaller groups join forces on starting one good Sanitarium and focus all energies to make it a successful and sustainable model, easy to be copied by the next Sanitariums. The danger in starting many small, undersize “Sanitariums” is that they tend to attract less resources, and are not sustainable, and unfortunately, they might claim to be what they are not or give services/treatments the staff have no competency for.

Many small so-called Sanitariums find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle. Due to their limited scale, they cannot sustain an efficient and adequately sized staff capable of providing high-quality services. As a result, they struggle to offer competitive services, which in turn makes it difficult to attract clients. In an attempt to overcome this challenge, they may resort to marketing campaigns that make unsubstantiated claims or promote exotic, unproven treatments. Even if they do manage to attract clients, there often aren’t enough rooms to accommodate enough guests to cover payroll and general expenses. Because these small “sanitariums” are undersized and lack adequate income, they cannot pay their staff, and they are back from where it started perpetuating the cycle of inefficiency and financial strain.

If we focus our resources on starting one good Sanitarium, then we can fine-tune a model for that country. Although it seems slow in the beginning, it multiplies much quicker and makes up later for the apparent time loss. In fact, we will get much further in less time and will maintain our high standard, because Sanitariums are memorials for God and of Sabbath.

Please read the 10 Global Principles in Establishing Sanitariums section for more information on this matter.

A:  We emphasized in this Project Guide that the size of a Sanitarium should not be a haphazard guess, but rather a decision made at the end of a well-thought-out planning process. This process involves careful consideration of country/local health and overall profile and needs, the types of services to be offered, the required staff for those services, and the number of patients and corresponding room number needed to ensure sustainability and provide a level of payroll that will maintain staff quality and retention.

In our experience, when we share this material and its ideas with administrators or individuals with business background who are interested in starting a Sanitarium, we often see them have an “AHA” moment. Many business-minded individuals face a mental block when entering what we call “missionary project areas.” This phenomenon, which we refer to as the “Spiritual Business Fallacy,” leads them to believe that sound business principles do not apply to spiritual endeavors, such as sanitarium work. They are somehow convinced that, even if we disregard fundamental business principles, everything will work out magically simply because we are operating in the realm of faith. When we are telling them that in God’s work we need to apply sound, proven business principles they have a revelation.

In a sentence:

THE MINIMUM VIABLE SIZE OF A SANITARIUM IS DEFINED BY THE SMALLEST SUSTAINABLE OPERATION THAT CAN GENERATE SUFFICIENT INCOME TO MAINTAIN UNIQUE SERVICES RESULTING IN HIGH PATIENT SATISFACTION, AS WELL AS ENSURE STAFF RETENTION AND INSTITUTIONAL LONGEVITY.

A: The Home-Sanitarium concept is not advocated by the Spirit of Prophecy, and the person who coined it 125 years ago would likely express it differently today. To our knowledge, Dr. David Paulson, the founder of Hinsdale Sanitarium, introduced this idea in an article titled:  “Is Your Home Being Transformed into a Sanitarium?” published in “The Christian Advocate”, Vol. 77, No. 4, dated January 23, 1900.

At one point, dr. Paulson stated:” The homes of all who expect soon to meet God should be miniature Sanitariums.”  However, this recommendation should be taken with a grain of salt. If one reads the entire article it becomes clear that Dr. Paulson did not imply that all diseases could be treated in such a setting. Instead, he meant that, at that time (1900), Adventists had sufficient God-given knowledge to help their neighbors and others deal with simple, minor conditions.

Dr. Paulson said: “The cure of the ordinary periodical sick headache requires but a limited paraphernalia. Do you know what diet to use in order to clear coated tongue? Are you aware that the average attack of biliousness (vomiting) is only an indication of decay and fermentation in the stomach?”. The counsel was given in the context of urging philanthropic work among the poor. Dr. Paulson, after serving as a physician in Battle Creek, became engaged in charitable endeavors in Chicago during the 1890s. Recognizing the importance of having an adequate facility to address serious diseases, he began operating a branch of the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Chicago in the late 1890s. Subsequently, in 1904, he established the Hinsdale Sanitarium in Hinsdale, a suburb of Chicago.

Given the significant advancements in medical science over the past 125 years and the widespread availability of medical information online, Dr. Paulson would likely revise his article to reflect updated advice and exercise greater caution in using the term “Sanitarium” than he did originally.

Today, in any institution where treatments are provided, a medical diagnosis is inherently necessary. Only a licensed professional physician (or in some countries, a nurse practitioner or a physical therapy specialist) can give medical diagnoses and prescribe treatments. This requirement is mandated by law everywhere in the world, especially in the major cities.

Providing care for vulnerable or needy individuals within a home setting to assist them with following a prescribed treatment or diet remains both necessary and feasible today. However, this does not convert the home into a sanitarium. Historical examples include Ellen White, who cared for sick people in her home without claiming it was a sanitarium. The Home-Sanitarium concept could potentially work if a physician establishes such a place in their home, but appropriate permits are required. Additionally, it is important to consider the practicality and sustainability of having patients in one’s home continuously, 24/4 for 365 days in a year!  Sanitarium operations should prioritize efficiency, volume, quality, and longevity.

We examined the challenges that small, undersized projects face, particularly the vicious cycle that many of them experience. Another concern for any undersized sanitarium enterprise is the potential for a fatality within 3-5 years. In such an event, it is crucial to determine responsibility and evaluate compliance with public health regulations, considering our limited competencies. It is important to consider the legal ramifications and the impact on the Adventist Church before undertaking a health ministry beyond one’s expertise.

A:  Develop plans for a sustainable operation and determine how much to expand beyond the smallest sustainable size. To achieve this, consult with Church leaders, Adventist businesspeople, ASI members, and OCI institutions with successful programs. It is recommended to extend 40-50% beyond the minimum size where possible, and for food services, scale up to meet 200% of the combined needs of patients and staff (e.g., if there are 50 patients and 40 staff, food services should accommodate 200 people). Even if initial construction cannot cover everything, aim to reach the sustainable size within two years.

If you purchase a property with existing buildings, follow the same process as if you intend to build. The custom-made ASSA models for 15, 30, 45, 60, and 70 beds/rooms can assist you in determining the appropriate size. If space is limited, inquire with the municipality about building permissions and obtain their response in writing. Carefully assess whether purchasing that particular property is a viable option.  

Always evaluate the necessary staff and space for a sustainable operation. Where difficult mission purposes demand (like 10/40 window) you might start with limited space and services, but have a clear plan to expand within 1-2 years to achieve sustainability.

In health services there are some standards we should not compromise . Simple doesn’t mean simplistic. Small has specific limits in health services. There is not much you can reduce when you build a general surgery room, likewise there are limits on how much you can make smaller accommodation and simpler services for patients today. Soon means the closest opportunity when you have space, equipment, and staff trained at the level which will provide competitive services to patients and high satisfaction.

Health services must maintain certain standards, so the small, soon and simple concept should be approached cautiously. Simple doesn’t mean simplistic, and “small” has its limits. Reducing the size of a general surgery room or making patient accommodation too small is impractical. “Soon” refers to the earliest opportunity when the necessary space, equipment, and trained staff are available in order to provide efficient service and ensure patient satisfaction.

A: The ASSA Project Guide will provide an overview, answer key questions, and offer general principles and guidelines on how to proceed. However, our advice for the first step after reading this material is to contact one of the institutions listed on the last page of this Project Guide under “Contact us”. Currently, there are two institutions listed, along with phone numbers and email addresses to reach experienced individuals who can offer further advice. The list of institutions available for counseling will be periodically updated.

A: Securing funding to establish a Sanitarium is a crucial part of the actionable plan. The Health Department of the General Conference advises qualified Adventist members globally to establish sanitariums near major cities. However, it does not commit to financing these initiatives.

Typically, local Church Union Conferences fund Church-owned projects while lay people who are inspired to start a non-for-profit Sanitarium will be responsible for funding the project. Agencies like ASI, OCI or ADRA may assist, but their support is not assured.

If it is God’s calling, aligns with His will and methods, and involves careful planning and collaboration with the Church, God will bless it.

Here are some golden promises for those in need of a miracle, akin to feeding 5,000 people with minimal resources. The chapter “Give ye them to eat” is particularly inspiring for resourceless pioneers. We will highlight a few key points from it.

“The miracle of the loaves teaches a lesson of dependence upon God. When Christ fed the five thousand, the food was not nigh at hand. Apparently, He had no means at His command…. The providence of God had placed Jesus where He was; and He depended on His heavenly Father for the means to relieve the necessity.” DA 368.2

“And when we are brought into strait places, we are to depend on God. We are to exercise wisdom and judgment in every action of life, that we may not, by reckless movements, place ourselves in trial. We are not to plunge into difficulties, neglecting the means God has provided, and misusing the faculties He has given us. Christ’s workers are to obey His instructions implicitly. The work is God’s, and if we would bless others His plans must be followed. Self cannot be made a center; self can receive no honor. If we plan according to our own ideas, the Lord will leave us to our own mistakes. But when, after following His directions, we are brought into strait places, He will deliver us. We are not to give up in discouragement, but in every emergency, we are to seek help from Him who has infinite resources at His command…” DA 369.1

“The work of building up the kingdom of Christ will go forward, though to all appearance it moves slowly and impossibilities seem to testify against advance. The work is of God, and He will furnish means, and will send helpers, true, earnest disciples, whose hands also will be filled with food for the starving multitude. God is not unmindful of those who labor in love to give the word of life to perishing souls, who in their turn reach forth their hands for food for other hungry souls.” DA 370

“Too often the worker for Christ fails to realize his personal responsibility. He is in danger of shifting his burden upon organizations, instead of relying upon Him who is the source of all strength. It is a great mistake to trust in human wisdom or numbers in the work of God. Successful work for Christ depends not so much on numbers or talent as upon pureness of purpose, the true simplicity of earnest, dependent faith. Personal responsibilities must be borne, personal duties must be taken up, personal efforts must be made for those who do not know Christ.” DA 370

“The means in our possession may not seem to be sufficient for the work; but if we will move forward in faith, believing in the all-sufficient power of God, abundant resources will open before us. If the work be of God, He Himself will provide the means for its accomplishment. He will reward honest, simple reliance upon Him. The little that is wisely and economically used in the service of the Lord of heaven will increase in the very act of imparting.” DA 371

“But when we give ourselves wholly to God and in our work follow His directions, He makes Himself responsible for its accomplishment. He would not have us conjecture as to the success of our honest endeavors. Not once should we even think of failure. We are to co-operate with One who knows no failure. EGW, COL 363

The Project Guide details the steps required to identify the appropriate size for a given situation and region, ensuring sustainability by considering all relevant factors. The size determination takes place towards the end of the planning process for the sanitarium after various details have been thoroughly considered. Guidance in determining the correct setup and size will be provided through interactions with experts from GCHD, Herghelia Lifestyle Center, and other similar institutions.

Also, before getting the specific architectural floor plans would be desirable to attend the Hands-on Training on “How to Start, Develp and Manage a 21st Century Sanitarium” at Herghelia or other GCHD designated training site. Even after this training, it is essential to have a detailed discussion with dr. Dan from Herghelia, prior to obtaining the architectural floor plans in CAD format. Without this conversation, one might not comprehend the rationale behind the specific dimensions of certain functions and could be inclined to reduce sizes without understanding the supporting evidence.

Once you have reviewed the internal information and confirmed that the desired dimensions meet your requirements, you are prepared to present the CAD format plans to the architect with whom you will be collaborating.

A: Prospective attendees must demonstrate a genuine interest in initiating or participating in the establishment of an Adventist Sanitarium. Attendees should be Adventists in good standing with the Church, actively involved in supporting their local Church and Conference in its mission endeavors. Therefore, two references are required prior to finalizing registration: one from the local pastor and one from the leadership of the local Conference. Additionally, prospective students are expected to study specific chapters from *Counsels on Health* before commencing the training.

This initiative is viewed by all institutions and instructors involved as an investment in key Adventist lay members who are anticipated to have a significant impact on the Church’s mission. This is not simply a financial endeavor. Consequently, we prioritize the quality and dedication of those attending this training, and thus can only accept a limited number of participants to maintain high standards. It is crucial that this investment yields maximum efficiency.

A:  The ASSA IT package will provide versatile and context-specific software designed to manage highly secure patient and client data, including health information. Each institution can customize the program according to its specific needs and local government regulations. It will address particular issues faced by sanitariums and facilitate communication among health professionals within ASSA-participating sanitariums, enabling the exchange of innovative approaches in lifestyle disease treatment. Additionally, it will assist institutions in maintaining contact with former patients, offering personalized follow-up care that covers both medical and spiritual aspects, thereby continuing support after they have left the institution.

 

The document will include instructions on how to use standardized methods to record anthropometric parameters, such as abdominal or waist circumference, as well as vital signs and parameters like pulse, respiration, and blood pressure, and detail par example how to note whether blood sugar analysis is performed using venous blood or test strips. Standardizing these data collection methods will allow all Adventist Sanitariums (Lifestyle/Wellness Centers) utilizing the ASSA software to securely interconnect and aggregate large datasets. This will enable the publication of significant and novel research in the field of lifestyle medicine, an area that is often underfunded and underpublished.

A: Please keep in touch with the GC Health Department and Herghelia and register as an interested institution/person representing the institution through the link that will soon be available on the ASSA landing page at Herghelia. We will notify you about the availability of the ASSA software as soon as it becomes available. Our goal is to maintain this open system, upgrade it, and provide consultancy on how to implement and adapt the ASSA software for each individual institutional user at a missionary price. We will not charge for the development of the ASSA software but only for the prospective maintenance work required for consultancy on how to initially run it, tailor it, and improve it for particular needs of your institution.

 

Utilizing complex, highly secure software is akin to a long-term marriage contract, as it requires regular updates and customization based on the specific needs of each institution. It is crucial that we have a team of consultants who can provide these services without incurring high costs. The ASSA software system will be an open-source platform that can be continuously improved as our organization progresses.

A: The term “Sanitarium” was likely coined by J.H. Kellogg in consultation with the SDA Church pioneers and leaders. An article in the Adventist Review and Herald around 1900, possibly written by Uriah Smith and signed by editors, mentions that the pioneers were seeking a term to distinguish what the Adventist Health Institution offered compared to the hospitals of that time. The name “Sanitarium” was chosen by SDA pioneers to replace the word “Hospital.” This decision was made because the level of medical care and hygiene during the 19th century on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean was generally poor. Sanitariums were established with the goal of addressing the underlying causes of diseases, including lifestyle factors and sanitation, rather than merely treating symptoms. Thus, health reform was intended to be shared and to benefit the world.

The latter part of the 19th century was marked by limited scientific knowledge. It wasn’t until later into the century that physicians began to accept Pasteur’s germ theory. At the time, the causes of diseases such as atherosclerosis, heart disease, and stroke were not well understood, and treatments were often based on prevailing medical theories rather than solid evidence. Much of the evidence relied on anecdotal facts instead of statistical trends. To emphasize the difference and highlight the evidence-based approach rooted in their principles, Dr. Kellogg and Adventist pioneers named their health institution “Sanitarium” (from Latin Sanitas – sound in body and mind). It was nothing magical in it, and it was not revealed from God with the express command to never return to the term “hospital”.

Initially, the first Adventist health institution was called Western Health Reform Institute and after 10 years of functioning (so and so), dr. Kellog has been named director and the name was changed to Medical and Surgical Sanitarium of Battle Creek. In the early 20th century, advancements in medicine, particularly through the discovery of antibiotics and sulfonamides, along with developments in epidemiology, hygiene, and public health, transformed hospitals into places of hope, especially in the area of acute care. Today, acute care in most hospitals worldwide is well-standardized and highly effective. The historical distinctions between Adventist Health care institutions and other hospitals have decreased. As a result, many of the old sanitariums changed their names to hospitals at the beginning of the 20th century.

There was an issue in the 20th century where Adventist health institutions were often confused with sanatoriums, which are long-term care facilities for tuberculosis and mental patients. Therefore, it became natural to refer to Adventist health institutions as hospitals instead of sanitariums. The challenge is whether be it Sanitarium or Hospital they will stay true to their calling to blend healing with teaching and with preaching the Gospel of salvation through our Savior Jesus Christ.

Medical care changed a lot in 150 years

From the ignorance of XIX century about physiopathology and real causes of (acute) diseases medical science made a giant leap and hospitals in most of what they do are not anymore, the “house of terror” they have been in the XIX century. We recognize that today the institutions named “Hospitals” means altogether higher quality of care than in the XIX century, some of EGW counsels doesn’t apply to them anymore! Hospitals in general deserve their name in XIX century specially in acute care. Today the medical care (hospital care)  is excellent and standardized in most hospitals (conducted by religious or secular/governmental entities ) specially in the area of acute care:

  • Acute surgical care, ICU/critical care
  • Acute infectious diseases
  • Trauma, pre-hospital emergency care and emergency care.
  • Urgent care and short-term inpatient stabilization (acute life/limb threatening medical conditions)

Sanitariums or Lifestyle Medicine Centers?

Current hospital care is deficient in 3 areas falling mainly under chronic disease management:

  • Chronic Diseases of Civilization (heart disease, diabetes 2, cancer, obesity, chronic renal disease, rheumatic/autoimmune Diseases, digestive inflammatory diseases etc.)
  • Mental care/wellness (mental wellness, mental breakdown, stress management, relaxation, depression, anxiety etc.)
  • Whole (Spiritual) Person Care (faith in God, spirituality, forgiveness, grief management, emotional health and EI)

These are NICHE areas where the concept of Sanitariums still has relevance, and this is the reason why many Adventists prefer today the term Lifestyle (Medicine) Center/Institute over Sanitarium which really included acute care services, too.

Sanitariums today

Any Adventist Health Care institution regardless of what one might call it:be it Lifestyle (Medicine) Center, Health Institute, Health Center, Sanitarium or Hospital falls under Sanitarium emblem provided that healing is bound up with the gospel commission and all planning and decisions are based on this axiomatic vision.

Blue Print concept is often a rallying cry for self-defining defenders of Adventists values. Ideas taken out of context are made cornerstones of the Blue Print.

The exact meaning of what really Blue Print means is unclear. Probably refers to “What I or our group think Inspiration through EGW say about Health Institutions”.

It has often strong, radical, personal opinions and view of Health Reform and attitude about drugs and hospital treatments (cancer specially) inserted. Often the proponents of Blueprint idea also have reservation about using chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and sometime surgery for cancer. They make cancer a test of faith. While it is true that sometime cancer treatment will result in a life of misery in the last months or year of life, it is also true that in the last 40 years the efficiency of cancer treatment and 5 years or 10 years survival rate really improved dramatically.   

Blueprint isn’t that magical how it sounds !

Battle Creek has been close to a failure in the first 10 years of operation with the prophet and James (one of the best SDA administrators) alive and in town – of all people around didn’t they have the Blue Print? Well it turns out Blueprint came in town with dr. Kellogg who at that time firmly believed and followed the Spirit of Prophecy.

Sp. of P.  outlines the main principles about Sanitariums/Adventist Health Institutions. However, each pioneer/visionary called to establish a Sanitarium  has to do his/her hard work and contribution for circumstantial, thoughtful particular implementation of the Sanitarium concept in the real world !!!

A: Here are a few enterprises which don’t qualify as sanitariums while some of them are good ways to do medical missionary work:

  • Home-Sanitarium
  • Family Sanitarium
  • Under the radar Sanitariums (educational only Sanitariums although treatments are given)
  • Sanitariums without physicians and nurses
  • Sanitariums with just several therapies (Battle Creek 1900 over 270 hydrotherapy modalities)
  • Limited Plant based diet overemphasized while other health habits downplayed
  • Sanitariums at odds or independent with/from Church

Q: WHAT IS MEDICAL MISSIONARY WORK CONSTITUED FROM

A: As seen in the life of Jesus who was The Greatest Medical Missionary Worker and he blended three elements into his work: Teaching, Preaching and Healing. Ellen White speaks in the Sp of P about the same elements integrated into the medical missionary work. While all Adventist are challenged to become medical missionaries healing in XXI century can be realized by collaboration between lay non-medical Adventist with medical professional Adventists.

Jesus threefold or “blended”  ministry

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages,

  • teaching in their synagogues, and
  • preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and
  • healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” Mathew 9.35
  • “Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with people as one who desired their good. He showed sympathy for them, ministered to their needs (n.c. to the body-emotional – HEALING, to the mental- TEACHING to the sin-sick soul – PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION IN CHRIST), and won their confidence. Then He invited them, “Follow Me.” MHH 73.4

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A collaborative project involving General Conference and Division Health Ministries, Herghelia Lifestyle Institute, Outpost Centers International, Loma Linda University’s Global Health Institute’s partner organizations