Clinical Chaplaincy: Evidence Based Spiritual Care Essential to Holistic Pa

Speaker: Rev Dorothy Symonds MDiv, BCC, CT, PMH-C

Description

Chaplains have long been partners in the health care setting. Historically, the role of Chaplain was often understood to be a provider of specialized care to those who identify as religious, with the primary responsibility of providing sacraments, religious rituals and prayers of healing.

For over 20 years, the WHO has recognized the importance of clinically relevant Spiritual Care in Palliative Care for all people who are living with life-limiting illnesses, thus opening the paradigms of research and practice for Chaplains across the healthcare spectrum. The resulting research clearly demonstrates that excellence in patient care for all people is holistic. Religious rituals continue to be important to some in their healing and recovery, but clinically embedded spiritual care is relevant for sustaining and improving the health of all individuals, families and our communities. This is especially true now, as we, individually and as a global society, do the difficult work of reconstructing existential meaning and purpose in this post-acute phase of the pandemic.