CHAPLAINCY IN HEALTHCARE

Chaplaincy in Healthcare

Abstract

Chaplaincy services are referred with the same meaning as pastoral care. Chaplains are the primary spiritual care professionals in hospitals. In 1968 Medicare agreed to provide reimbursement to hospitals for chaplain services and today there are over 10,000 chaplains in the U.S. Chaplains are trained to work in the medical field and are the trusted leading spiritual care providers. Chaplains have more work than they can handle. The chaplains associated with the healthcare field provide their services in hospices care, hospitals, assisted living facilities and nursing homes. The role of the chaplain in healthcare is to provide emotional and spiritual needs to the patients. Patients discuss their concerns and are assured by hospital chaplains that confidentiality will be maintained, and supportive context is provided to patients. Professional hospital chaplains are accountable to their employing institutions, certifying chaplaincy organization and their religious faith groups. The hospital chaplain must have a look at the patient with a holistic approach which means that the patient must be seen as the whole. The hospital chaplains are required to work side by side with the medical professionals. There is a recognized need for spiritual care backed by research showing that spiritual health correlates with improved overall health. Additionally the majority of patients want spiritual care from their health providers. U.S. health care system is represented by independent agencies on three levels, this family medicine, hospital care and public health. Palliative care improves quality of life in patients by reducing pain, both physical and emotional. Spiritual care is currently integrated in palliative care with varying degrees of depth. Hospital chaplaincy seems to be an important factor in patient's religiosity and spirituality, as the patient's health can be influenced in positive ways. The hospital chaplain responds to requests for care of patients and families, communicating with local faith communities according to the wishes of the patient and provides support to patients and their families in times of great stress and grief. The role of chaplains is to help people make that connection, developing thereby a spiritual and/or meaningful approach toward life. Professional chaplains, thus, are skilled in eliciting stories that evoke self-understanding. Chaplaincy plays an important role by helping patients deal with their physical illness. Chaplaincy also supports and strengthens the spiritual and religious beliefs and practices, especially the recovery process. Professional chaplains aid the patients through healing and recovery and address these issues with the means of spiritual care. Time-tested spiritual resources are brought by the professional chaplains to the patients so that they can provide meaning to their transcendence, value and purpose. The professional chaplains cure and heal the patients with interest in demonstration through ways other than the conventional healthcare disciplines. Chaplains must make patient-centered care informed by research a priority to be taken seriously by other health care professionals. Without this research, spiritual and religious issues will continue to be neglected in the care of the patient and family. Research is required that how patients have protected admittance to chaplain ...