Pastoral Care Services

PHILOSOPHY/DEFINITION OF PASTORAL CARE

The philosophy of Pastoral Care Service is to honor, respect and accept the personhood of everyone as being created by God with significant worth. Whether patient, family, friend, or staff, we have concern for the other person's needs and feelings and will work toward an appropriate involvement with the person's needs and feelings through the dynamics of the spiritual, emotional, mental and social.

As people intersect with us as patients or family during illness, crises or loss, Pastoral Care stands ready to be the bridge between illness, crises and one's Spiritual Journey.

These product lines are maintained to enhance the quality of a person's journey with us.

	Interfaith Pastoral Visitation,
	Ministry of Word and Sacrament in line with various faith traditions,
	Crisis intervention, care for the Dying and Grieving, Pastoral Counseling, Spiritual Direction,
	Administrative collaboration with other departments and area agencies,
	Continuing education for Clergy, nurses, volunteers and others, as requested
	Support services for local congregations and their clergy, as requested.

Care is something that is universally human. Care is mutual; one who gives it also receives it. Everyone, at some point in time, is both a giver and a receiver of care.

Care is made up of attitude and action. Care is seeking the best interests of another.

Care is pastoral when its power and focus are seen to be beyond self, beyond human. Care is pastoral when one enters a helping encounter that deals with the persons's ultimate concern. Care is pastoral when its function is to communicate the power of the divine, which mediates the courage to accept one's finitude and the anxiety which is part of our creatureliness. Care is pastoral when it directs others to the source of life and power, to that which is infinite and eternal.

The fundamental role of Pastoral Care is the attempt to help others, through words, acts, and relationships, to experience as fully as possible the reality of God's presence and love in their lives.

CODE OF ETHICS OF THE COLLEGE OF CHAPLAINS

Pastoral Care subscribes to the Code of Ethics adopted by the College of Chaplains. (see Reference A-1)

Beyond the Code of Ethics referred to above, the following will apply to Pastoral Care employees.

Professional members of Pastoral Care are themselves member's of the hospital staff rather than pastors of a specific church or denomination. As such, they do not disclose their local church or denomination unless asked to do so by the patient.

RELATIONSHIP TO PATIENTS

1. Gifts are not accepted as compensation for service rendered a patient.

2. If requested by the patient or family, the Chaplain may provide the sacraments, communion, anointing, etc.

3. Printed tracts or other literature are not distributed to patients unless approved by the Clinical Chaplain, except to persons of his own congregation.

4. Dismissed patients are not contacted unless circumstances occasion this (i.e. bereavement follow-up, spiritual direction).

5. Conversation with patients is kept in strict confidence.

6. Pertinent information concerning a patient may be shared with the physician if this is indicated.

7. Pertinent information concerning a patient is reported by volunteer chaplains or Pastoral Care Visitors to the Clinical Chaplain.

RELATIONSHIP TO EMPLOYEES

Counseling with an employee of the hospital is done on the employee's off-hospital time, except in instance of extreme emergency, and then only short term.

REFERENCE APPENDED

Code of Ethics College of Chaplains, Reference A-1, on file in the Chaplains office.

Back

Gift Shop | Health Information | Baby Photos | Visiting Hours | Directions | Privacy Policy