The Spiritual Care Team:
- Offers comfort and support to patients and families in crisis by responding to referrals from physicians, nurses, support staff and patients may request a chaplain referral as well, they just need to inform the health care staff.
- Serves as liaison between families and medical/nursing staff to clarify their personal feelings and needs.
- Provides assistance in search for meaning and acceptance of loss and death.
- Coordinates opportunities for sacramental ministry.
- Serves as leaders of prayer when appropriate and presides at services for patients, families and/or staff. Anyone can request a chaplain’s visit: the patient, a family member, clergy, the physicians, or a member of the hospital staff. Visits to newly admitted patients will be attempted, but request for chaplain services will always be honored.
Some Situations A Chaplain May Be Needed:
- When a patient and/or their family is anxious about their condition
- When surgery is anticipated
- When bad news is received
- When difficult decisions are faced
- When there is a religious question
- When prayer is needed for patient and/or their family
- When there are times of grief
- When there is difficulty with emotions
- When there is loneliness
- When there are struggles with the meaning of a patient’s illness in regard to critical ethical issues
To contact the Chaplain Office dial (615) 384-1695 or email.