Re: Community Chaplaincy: Evolving
Health Care Challenges, Rabbi Nathan Goldberg
(PlainViews, 6/1/2005, Vol. 2, No.
9)
Rabbi Goldberg has brought up a topic that
has been of great interest to me for some
time. While interning as a seminary student
I worked with home health and met many in
the community who had no church/no clergy/sometimes
no support system at all. I was their pastor/counselor
while they were in the home health program,
and upon discharge, they'd want me to continue
visits. I could not, and would try to connect
them with a church/clergy/group in their
area. Sometimes it worked, other times it
did not. And they were alone again.
Now I work for a community health organization
and have more flexibility; when someone is
in hospice/home health I visit and often
when they are no longer in those programs,
I continue to visit...for awhile. The goal
is to connect them to other community 'sources.'
For the most part it works here. However,
there are those who simply don't want to
'connect'; to anyone or anything, and they
never have. So, I remain their contact for
support even though the visits are not as
frequent due to time factors, other clients,
etc. And so far my organization pays me for
those visits as long as they aren't frequent,
and don't interfere with the visits I am
to be making with our current clients.
I also believe there is a need for some
type of community outreach for those who
leave hospitals, nursing homes, home health
programs and have no spiritual support 'out
there.' Some have used the volunteer programs
such as Befrienders, Stephen's Ministers,
and various other outreach programs, to follow
people home, but I believe there is room
for more of a chaplaincy approach, too.
Rev. Barbara Lindeman
Chaplain for ISJ Community Health
Mankato, MN
Our organization has just taken what I think
is a visionary step in approving a new program
of our department. We call it “Traveling
Spiritual Care,”and the focus of the
.5FTE (at first) will be to work with our
community/out-patient programs in exploring,
resourcing and providing spiritual care for
our patients in these programs. The chaplain
who works in this program will be working
with our home health staff (which includes
the coordinator of parish nursing), our cancer
center, our urgent care centers and our outpatient
surgi-center at first.
So, when I opened up Rabbi Goldberg’s
article this morning, I was very excited
that someone else was thinking along these
lines as well. And I was hopeful that maybe
someone had actually done something with
this concept and we could be in conversation
with them.
If anyone out there is doing this, or any
thing like this, I would love to hear from
you.
Thanks,
Cherie Baker, Director
Spiritual Care and Religious Services
Washington County Hospital and Health System
Hagerstown, Maryland
Re: My Patient is Gone!, Sharon
Weissman (PlainViews, 6/1/2005,
Vol. 2, No. 9)
In a meeting with some peers I read "My
Patient is Gone!" from your current
newsletter. Afterward
•I 'drilled' into your home page.
•Entered my subscription.
•Passed the word to colleagues.
•Wrote this.
Thank you for what you do.
Robert J. Mayer, Assisting Priest
St. Jude's Episcopal Church
Cupertino, California
& volunteer chaplain at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
VITAS Innovative Hospice Care after some
study, elected to begin an ACPE program with
the dream of creating a credential in end
of life care. We have five accredited ACPE
sites with several contracts elsewhere. More
information is at www.vitas.com and www.cpevitas.com.
VITAS has high standards for staff chaplains;
VITAS requires a chaplain on every team.
We are often looking both for CPE students
and staff chaplains. The National Hospice
and Palliative Care Organization Spiritual
Care Steering Committee is addressing the
issue of chaplain credentials and the need
for more hospice chaplain educational resources.
Hospice grew up as a volunteer organization.
Many hospices are still growing in their
awareness of the professional education and
credentials for chaplains. I appreciate the
conversation and interest in Plain Views
and wanted to share this resource.
Dr. Martha Ann Rutland
Director of Clinical Pastoral Education
VITAS: Innovative Hospice Care
Miami, Fla.
I feel quite disconcerted as to what I perceive
as a rise in "fundamentalism;" especially,
but not exclusively, among "Christians" since
that is my faith. This isn't anything new,
but it seems to be a growing plague. No doubt
this plays into the hands of certain political
agendas and finds encouragement from this
sector.
I'm talking about things such as the Air
Force Academy scene where so called "evangelicals" pressure
and harass those not of their persuasion;
apparently this has some upper level approbation
to the point where even the chaplains in
charge who opposed this activity have been
penalized. I'm also talking about the TV
portrayals of other religions as basically
ignorant and hostile –a sort of scape-goating
or transference which projects upon others
the ill thoughts and deeds of one's own heart.
I believe that from the top down this manner
of attitude and behavior is making happen
the very catastrophe that it purports to
be fighting. In the name of "security" all
sorts of dastardly deeds are happening with
almost impunity.
The worst, not the best in humanity is emerging;
to me this bodes ill. Am I simply expressing
my own exaggerated fears?
John P. Stangle
Certified Chaplain Advanced Emeritus, NACC
I'm seeking statistics on current (actual,not
recommended) chaplain/patient ratios in both
acute and long-term care settings. We're
a 220 bed acute care facility in a rural
area with a separate long-term care program,
so most helpful would be any information
on chaplain-patient ratios in similar size
institutions and locations. Anyone having
any information or knowing where I could
find such could email me directly at alexis.versalle@pardeehospital.org.
Thank you.
Alexis Versalle
Margaret R. Pardee Hospital
Hendersonville, NC.
Re: JCAHO is Professional Chaplaincy’s
Friend, Rev. Susan Wintz (PlainViews,
5/18/2005, Vol. 2, No.8)
I could not agree more with the points Rev.
Susan Wintz brings forth in her article.
I believe that the future of Chaplaincy is
dependent upon the actions of the JCAHO.
As the economic realities of healthcare provision
continue to apply pressure on Administrations
to operate, employed, paid, staff level Chaplains
are ever more at risk. I believe we must
devise a detailed standard of care which
the JCAHO can accept as a requirement for
patient care and not just as a vague recommendation.
As a certified Chaplain in the NACC, and
coming from a very mission oriented and mission
committed organization, I could easily become
complacent, but I know such complacency would
be detrimental in the long run to our profession
as a whole. I applaud the efforts being made
in this vital concern, and am certainly willing
to help out in any way I can. I see this
situation as perfect opportunity for all
the organizations within professional chaplaincy
to collaborate and take a most meaningful
step to recognition as a "Profession."
Dave Pike, Certified Chaplain, NACC
Director Pastoral Care & Patient Relations
St. Rita's Medical Center
Lima, Ohio
Re: Creating Space for G-d, Rev.
Dr. Mark LaRocca Pitts (PlainViews,
5/18/2005, Vol. 2, No.8)
I just read Mark LaRocca Pitts article in
the latest issue of PlainViews. Well done!
Creating a sacred space for G-d in our lives
is one of the most important tasks we have,
but one of the least undertaken. Thanks for
the guidance on how important it is for us
in ministry.
Jim Stephens, M.Div. BCC
Senior Staff Chaplain
Providence Alaska Medical Center
Anchorage, AK
I work at Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital.
Patients have a much shorter stay and rotate
in and out at a rapid pace. However, what
I most dislike is the kind of multitasking
that takes away from patient time and that
makes me feel like a computer and not a person.
I know it is like that in the corporate world,
too. We are all doing the jobs of two people
and still need to do all the continuous changes,
updates, and new requirements but without
any increase in benefits or pay. It is "the
way of the world" but we are supposedly
not "of this world." In either
case, it takes away from time spent with
patients and does not help with patient satisfaction,
our supposed ultimate goal. Am I the only
one feeling "the weight of the world" coming
from all sides as we seek to meet all our
organization(s)’expectations and still
have sacred time and space at the heart?
With the professional organization, hospitals,
denominations requiring ever more and newer
requirements to keep our jobs "up to
date," I am feeling like an over-programmed
computer. I just want to break down.
One has to say "no" to multitasking
if one is to keep G-d at one's center. I
am ready to sit on the mountain. There is
too much noise down here. And professionalism
is increasing it. I do take care of myself
however. I have learned to say "no" a
lot more often, do yoga, walk three miles
daily, have friends and lovely gardens for
which I am the caretaker and benefactor.
Chaplain Ruth Brooks
Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital
New Haven, CT
This was a great article and timely for
me. It is a continuation of some of what
Richard Rohr presented in Albuquerque. I
always feel much more centered when I take
time to be silent and still. It helps me
personally and that non-anxious presence
is translated to my ministry. Mark, I appreciate
your work in APC and your scholarship.
Peace,
Barry J. Morris M.Div. BCC
Director of Pastoral Care
Randolph Hospital
Asheboro, NC
The Quality Commission for Pastoral Services
of the Association of Professional Chaplains
is establishing a workgroup to accomplish
the following project:
Develop a resource that includes methods
to communicate more clearly how what is done
in the provision of professional spiritual
care that articulates our participation in
the spiritual and physical well-being of
our patients. The resource will also identify
intentional ways by which the membership
can continue to highlight and develop beyond
clinical training, their professional chaplaincy
skills that relate to the healing process.
Our current strategy is to link particular
chaplaincy practices to studies, resources
and research that demonstrate how chaplaincy
contributes to healthcare and to the healing
of patients under our care. If you know of
articles that demonstrate such effectiveness
(from any field or discipline) please pass
them on to the workgroup. You are also invited
to join the workgroup itself. Your participation
in this project would be greatly appreciated.
Please contact Steven Spidell at sspidell@mdanderson.org.
I'm putting a needs assessment together.
Have you ever done this in your hospital?
If you have I would be interested in knowing
what approach you have taken. If you have
and if you don't mind sharing it I would
appreciate a peep.
Thanks a million and keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Kathleen O'Connor
Adelaide & Meath Hospital,
Tallaght,
Dublin 24
Ireland
Kathleen.OConnor@amnch.ie
I would be very interested in hearing from
chaplains that are working in psychiatric
facilities. If you are currently working
with the mentally ill, please email me the
following information:
Name
Email
Phone
Facility Name and Description (Acute, long term, out patient, state hosp.
etc)
Certification yes/no Memberships
Length of Employment
It would be nice to have a dialog among those of us who minister to the mentally
ill. If I have the names and contact info, I will try to set something up.
Thanks
C. Rosemary Marmouget
RMarmouget@sprg.mercy.net
Re: A Key That May Unlock the Door
of the Mind, Robert Chodo Campbell (PlainViews,
4/20/2005, Vol. 2, No.6)
I want to thank Robert Chodo Campbell for
taking the time to share this wonderful story.
I fondly remember working at Osawatomie State
Hospital as a Chaplain Resident and Supervisory
Student and working with catatonic patients.
I think that the patient taught me more than
I ever did for them. They taught me the preciousness
of silence and being able to be with a person
without having to do for them. These lesson
have served me well as I have continued in
chaplaincy and sitting with patient families
in the Trauma Center when nothing can be
said or need be said as we waited for some
word from the trauma team. The silence of
sitting with a grandmother whose wrinkles
are so precious as she fell asleep because
someone was with her and she was no longer
afraid of the night. The grace of quietness
of staying with a premature child who was
in the process of dying, staying there because
the parents couldn't bring themselves to
stay but didn't want their child to die alone.
I was first introduced to silence as a youth
working alone hoeing corn or beans. With
only the Kansas wind and bugs to keep you
company, you can learn to let your mind go,
mindful of only those plants that didn't
look like corn stalks or bean plants. Even
driving a tractor for long hours as one plowed
or disc the ground allowed for silence. For
me, silence is a precious commodity that
finds the world continually trying to crowd
out. Thank you Robert for reminding me of
this gift of the universe.
D. James Stapleford, D. Min., MBA
Director of Spiritual Care and Education
Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital
Albany, GA
I wanted to say thank you to Chodo for the
fine example of mindfulness in our work.
I appreciate the honesty implicit within
the writing. In reading your words I am reminded
again of how there is no silence or no not
silence. The buzzing of everything in the
encounter sparked a remarkable moment to
occur. Thanks for sharing.
Hands Palm-to-Palm
Rev. Dale E. Wratchford
Children's Hospital
Omaha, NE
Re: Developing Further Professional
Friendships, Dr. Walter J. Smith, S.J.
(PlainViews, 4/6/2005, Vol. 2,
No.5)
I was very pleased to read The Rev. Dr.
Walter J. Smith, SJ's, recent Advocacy article.
Father Smith rode the waves of change as
the NACC embraced a pastoral care and education
need that was not sufficiently being met,
came into being and sought to gain trust
of other cognate groups - a struggle hard
won, yet a proud 40 year history celebrated
this year. CPSP rose out of a similar desire
to offer pastoral care and education through
a renewed spirit. Trust appears to be a major
issue in this present day struggle, as well.
I believe Father Smith's words are to be
taken to heart as the various pastoral care
and education cognate groups grapple with
their ability and/or willingness to "sustain
and further the friendships we have made
with each other and the degree to which we
shall succeed in our ongoing efforts of trusting
each other." I hope all groups will
consider the opportunity set before us, and
the implications of our present choices for
the future of our common ministry.
Mary Davis
CPE Supervisor
CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health Care
San Antonio, Texas
Thank you for this publication. It helps
me feel connected, especially at a seminary
where, during my four years of study, I've
known one other person who aspires to chaplaincy.
Thank goodness for CPE!
Marie Tulin
Re: Developing Further Professional
Friendships, Dr. Walter J. Smith, S.J.
(PlainViews, 4/6/2005, Vol. 2,
No.5)
I believe that Fr. Smith's point is that
as regarding various professional chaplain
organizations,"as we get closer, the
issues of our identities become more delineated,
and the fears of assimilation more pronounced." This
article is about identity and professional
organizations trusting each other.
I wonder if the key to trusting others might
be trusting ourselves, trusting our own organizations.
If we try to keep under tight control who
speaks and what is spoken within our own
organizations, how can we trust communications
outward? I'm not advocating that any opinionated
person can be a spokesperson for an organization,
but perhaps more internal freely-made discussions
are in order. Without open discussion and
participation by the many, hidden agendas
remain just that and any statement has an
air of suspicion about it. Of course, to
promote discussions, there has to be developed
a mechanism or forum for this to happen,
and I don't see much of this with any of
the professional chaplain organizations I
am aware of.
Sincerely,
John Stangle
Certified Chaplain Advanced
Emeritus,NACC
Re: Recovering Meaning and Restoring
Hope, Chaplain Jim Rowland (PlainViews,
4/6/2005, Vol. 2, No.5)
Jim Rowland's piece in the current Plain
Views is truly excellent and I'd like to
tell him so directly, especially since I
criticized his last effort.
Rabbi David Osachy
Chaplain
Community Hospice of Northeast Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Re: Blessings
of the Hands: A Gift to the Staff, Sarah
Wofford and James Yoder(PlainViews,
3/16/2005, Vol. 2, No. 4)
Would Sarah and James
be willing to share a copy of the liturgy
they developed for the blessing of the hand
ceremony as well as the individual blessing
they use to bless the hands? If so, I would
like a copy of it.
Harry Werner, Chaplain
University Hospitals of Cleveland
Cleveland, OH
Editor's Note: Sarah and Jim have offered
the liturgy for use by others. You can
download PDF copies by clicking below links.
Blessing
of the Hands Bulletin
Blessing
of the Hands Full Liturgy
Blessing
of the Hands Individual
Re: Two Bananas and a Glass of Milk,
The Rev. Reginald Mortha (PlainViews,
3/16/2005, Vol. 2, No. 4)
What a great story! Thank you Reginald Mortha
for sharing this wonderful moment of ministry
with us.
D. James Stapleford, D. Min., MBA
Director of Spiritual Care and Education
Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital
Albany, GA
Re: The Chaplain
as Hospitalist, The Rev. Dr. Mark LaRocca-Pitts
(PlainViews, 3/2/2005, Vol. 2,
No. 3)
I think the way you described the problem
of transfer and continuity of care between
chaplain and parish clergy is good. I think
the hospitalist metaphor ends up communicating
better with the clinical staff at the hospital
than it may with local parish clergy. The
reason is, in part, that the formational
process for physicians (intense undergraduate
coursework in sciences, followed by a fairly
standard four year medical school curriculum,
followed by a residency for specialty) is
one that
Primary Care Physicians and hospitalists share, while the formational process
for parish clergy is not at all "standardized." Some do have bachelors
degrees and master's level seminary work, while others may go through an "apprenticeship" program.
There are also quite different ways of teaching a master's level seminary
curriculum, as you well know.
Someone seeking certification with APC will have the bachelor's, master's,
CPE expectations met, but not all seek such certification and not all hospitals
require it.
That's probably another paper, and one you
may not wish to write.
Jon Altman
APC Associate Chaplain
Pastor, First United Methodist Church
Belzoni, MS
Re: Charting, Chapter Two, Rabbi
Sandra Katz (PlainViews, 3/2/2005,
Vol. 2, No. 3)
Dear Rabbi Katz:
I was very moved by your article, and wanted you to know that I was sitting
in the House Of lords, waiting to vote, reading it, and thinking how we
need more of your sort of ideas here. I'm a UK based rabbi, now more of
a politician, who specialises in palliative care issues and in spiritual
care within healthcare. It was a refreshing and moving piece to read.
Very best wishes and kol ha-kavod,
Julia Neuberger
Member of the House of Lords
UK Parliament as a Liberal Democrat working peer
President of the West/Central Liberal Synagogue in London
Re: Hospital Chaplaincy and Hospice
Chaplaincy: A Comparison, The Rev. Jim
Rowland (PlainViews, 2/16/2005,
Vol. 2, No. 2)
I am responding to the article by Chaplain
Jim Rowland about the need for higher standards
of training and for certification in Hospice
Chaplaincy. I agree with him in his desire
for highly trained and certified Hospice
Chaplains. I do so because I am one. I have
been a Chaplain with Hospice for 17 years,
and am Board Certified by the APC. There
are four hospital-based Hospice programs
in my city, and I know that three of them
have certified Chaplains, and the fourth
may. Every APC conference I have attended
has included small group activities for Hospice
Chaplains. Perhaps there are not as many
of us as there needs to be, but know that
we are there.
Gordon W. Burton
Chaplain
Ruth Lilly Hospice of Clarian Health
Re: The Unthinkable…With
a Face, The Rev. John Brewer (PlainViews,
2/16/2005, Vol. 2, No. 2)
As a CPE student years ago, I did six months
in pediatric hospice and it was the hardest
thing I had ever done. For all the reasons
you listed and top on the list was the randomness
question. For me, it seemed that if we are
dealing with true randomness, then perhaps
God just lets happen what will. But if, on
the other hand, there is not really true
randomness but God working in some way as
partner with all involved, that there is
a reason but not one we can know on this
level of consciousness. Like every soul comes
into being for a purpose, whether it is for
1 minute or 100 years. And the suffering
question, too. If one cannot assign meaning
to suffering, then suffering can become unbearable.
So what are we to do with the suffering of
a child, who is unable to assign meaning
at least on an adult level?
Charles Cook, chaplain
WellStar Paulding and Douglas Hospitals
When I read your article my antennas went
up right away. I am a hospital chaplain and
have done some work with patients who were
dying and their family. However, I have always
felt inadequate in this particular field.
I would like more training in the area of
hospice. I live in New York City and have
made phone calls to various groups but I
cannot seem to find any program that train
in hospice work. If anyone out there, especially
in the New York area, know of any training
program in hospice, please let me know. God
bless!
Chaplain Deborah Heard
Jamaica Hospital
Queens, New York
Re: Hospital Chaplaincy and Hospice
Chaplaincy: A Comparison, The Rev. Jim
Rowland (PlainViews, 2/16/2005,
Vol. 2, No. 2)
I read with great interest Chaplain Rowland's
article on the emotional perils of Hospice
Chaplaincy. I served 3 years as a hospice
chaplain. 2 years with a very wretched hospice
in Pueblo, Colorado and my final year with
Pikes Peak
Hospice in Colorado Springs. The last hospice was a wonderful hospice and
redeemed my view of end-of-life ministries and made me a willing participant.
The reality is that most hospices are one
chaplain institutions. The chaplain serves
24/7 all day/all night. The chaplain is usually
overworked. 25 patients per chaplain should
be the norm. That equals one chaplain visit
per patient per
week with time to travel to patient homes and to chart the visit later. Anything
over 25 is toxic to emotional health. Chaplains should have time off that
they can count on. One uninterrupted weekend a month should be part of the
schedule. Finally, every hospice needs two chaplains. I refuse to work for
any hospice with me as the sole chaplain.
When all that I have described is implemented,
then turn to the emotional needs of the hospice
chaplain. The chaplain then might truly benefit
from the outreach.
Ed Williamson, BCC
Staff Chaplain
CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital
Louisiana
Just read the article in Advocacy by Chaplain
Jim Rowland. I have worked 3 years as a Hospital
chaplain and am now a hospice chaplain. Any
hospice I know of does required some, if
not a total of, 4 units of CPE. Many of us
were trained in hospitals but find hospice
work much more rewarding due to the relationships
that are built and the length of time there
is to minister to patient and family.
Hospice is paid for by Medicare and it is
Medicare who sets the guidelines and I believe,
with as strict as Medicare is getting about
hospice, it will require CPE trained chaplains
shortly. Medicare at this time requires a
bereavement chaplain to follow up with families
13 months after the death of the patient.
(Our hospice currently now contacts over
200 families throughout the year on a monthly
basis to help with the grieving process.)
Hospice work, from my experience, has been
looked at as a beginning or stepping stone
for chaplains---the mentality of "work
hospice until a real job comes along." I
believe that chaplaincy, as a profession,
needs to really look at the work of a hospice
chaplain and realize that it is vital to
families who are letting go of a loved one
and having to "move on" after the
death.
My CPE training and dealings with my own
issues have been a great help in working
both the hospital and hospice. I feel that
EVERY pastor who steps into a pulpit should
go through CPE so they are able to minister
better to their congregation.
I feel that Chaplain Rowland has gone by
his experience only and needs to realize
that many hospice chaplains have gone through
CPE and are doing an incredible job with
families, patients, and end-of-life issues.
Thank you,
Rev. Chaplain Barbara West
League City, TX
I just read Jim Rowland's insightful article
in the current issue of PlainViews. I became
a full time healthcare chaplain just over
eight years ago. For the first five years
and eight months, I served double duty as
chaplain in the hospital three days a week,
and for our local hospice two days a week.
I resonate with Jim's opinion, especially
in the area of 'processing' one's feelings.
I remember my first visit as a hospice volunteer
in 1994. I had never been in the presence
of a dying person. I wasn't prepared for
what I saw and sensed, physically, and even
less prepared for what I would one day come
to process in the deaths of patients with
whom I would become emotionally bonded. My
growth was helped by Kathy, our sensitive,
skillful social worker, and reading a variety
of books on death and dying. Two units of
Clinical Pastoral Education haven't hurt
either! Well, not much!! All learning involves
a little pain and suffering. Anyway, as Jim
counsels, we must provide focused, intentional
training to all who would companion with
others on the final steps of their journey.
Rev. Phil Pinckard, M.Div.
Director of Chaplaincy Services
Medical Center of South Arkansas
A SHARE Foundation Partnership
Far be it from me, a rabbi who has served
as a professional chaplain in both hospital
and hospice settings, to oppose Chaplain
Jim Rowland's call for increased education
and training for my hospice colleagues. We
can all benefit from further professional
development. Chaplain Rowland's article,
however, goes too far in asserting that the
average hospice chaplain is not adequately
qualified to carry out his or her ministry
with the terminally ill. While I am not familiar
with the situation in Texas or Arkansas,
all of the hospice chaplains I have known
in New York, Philadelphia and here in Florida
are graduates of CPE programs and have received
additional specialized training in issues
of grief, loss and bereavement through their
hospice agencies. Their professional training,
comfort with death and sensitivity toward
the dying far exceed those of most hospital
chaplains I have known. Hospice chaplains
are continuously surrounded by a professional
environment that prizes caring over curing,
while hospital chaplains may more easily
fall prey to the "medical model" that
prevails in their place of work. As for us
readers of PlainViews, let's work together
to further professionalize the practice of
pastoral care in all settings. In this effort
it is not helpful to set one group of chaplains
against another.
Rabbi David Osachy, Chaplain
Community Hospice of Northeast Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
A recent article by Chaplain Jim Rowland, “on
a professional effort toward the process
at life’s end,”was brought to
my attention.
While I sympathize with his lament, and
agree that less-than-best practice is followed
whenever hospices employ spiritual care providers
who have not received sufficient training
and certification in end of life care, I
would say that what is required is a system-wide
corrective.
We in the Spiritual Caregiver Section of
the National Council of Hospice and Palliative
Professionals (NCHPP) are aware of the multitude
of issues and dynamics involved in addressing
the legitimate concerns that Chaplain Rowlands
raises. Within NHPCO we have been involved
in discussions about what it would take to
provide review, support, and some sort of “certifying”process
for hospice chaplains, along with other hospice
professionals.
Within the spiritual caregiver certifying
community, represented by COMISS organizations,
there is growing awareness of the differences
and distinctions entailed in providing spiritual
care in acute as opposed to end-of-life situations.
Questions of how to reconcile these differences
and also establish appropriate certification
processes for end of life spiritual care
providers both divide and distinguish the
various COMISS participants.
Development of curricula for teaching end
of life spiritual care is taking place. And
we can applaud efforts being made, by VITAS
for example, to establish CPE and other chaplaincy-training
programs in hospice settings.
In the meantime, as appropriate structures
are developed for the training, certification
and support of end of life spiritual care
providers, I believe we can give thanks that
so many patients and families as well served
as they are. As in acute care, those providing
end of life spiritual care participate in
a process of Caring that far exceeds our
own experience, education, and existential
situation.
Rev. Brad DeFord
Leader, Spiritual Caregiver Section, NCHPP
Chaplain, Torrance Memorial Hospice
Torrance, CA
Re: An Opportunity to Participate
in Chaplaincy Research, The Rev. George
Handzo and Dr. Kevin Flannelly (PlainViews,
2/16/2005, Vol. 2, No. 2)
I am a chaplain employed by Tri-Cities Chaplaincy
and assigned to Kadlec Medical Center in
Richland, Washington. When Kadlec began its
open heart surgery program in August 2001,
I integrated a cardiac pastoral care (CPC)
component into the overall program. It included
specialized training of the chaplains and
key nurses by Bob Yim, former cardiac chaplain
at Barnes-Jewish in St. Louis. Briefly, the
CPC included a pre-op visit, coping assessment
and offer of prayer; several surgical updates
to the family (including pastoral support & clinical
interpretation); and several post-op visits
and coping assessments. The assessments were
informed by Puchalski's FICA, Ledbetter's
5Triads and the Yim Index. After 350 patients
went through the program, I collated various
data including age, gender, existing faith
factor, severity of heart disease, acceptance
of prayer, coping status during the patient's
stay, length of stay, and mortality rates.
The data have been analyzing by my statistics
partner and have found numerous statistically
significant correlations which may be of
predictive value. We are presently preparing
an article which we hope will be published.
My question to Chaplain Handzo and Dr. Flannelly
is to whom should we submit such a study?
A first or second tiered medical or cardiac
publication or JPC&C or other pastoral
care journal? Thank you for any suggestions
you may have.
Timothy J. Ledbetter, DMin, BCC
A response from Dr. Flannelly to
Timothy Ledbetter:
I conducted a quick search in a number of
heart journals on PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/)
using the search phrase listed below, and
I found only a couple of studies about religion,
and they were not really on the mark. There
may be something wrong with my search, but
if I’m right, I don’t think such
journals are the place to send your study.
In either case, simple correlations would not be the proper analyses for
a first (or second) tier health journal. In my opinion, you would have to
do multiple regression using the variables use mentioned as independent variables.
If your dependent variable is mortality, you would have to do logistic regression.
If you have something interesting, you could try to publish it in a behavioral
health journal.
Hope this helps.
Kevin Flannelly
(am heart j[ta] OR am heart hosp j[ta] OR adv card surg [ta] OR cardiology[ta]
OR app cardiol [ta] OR adv cardiol [ta] OR cardiovacs dis[ta] OR heart
[ta] OR br heart j [ta] OR heart dis stroke [ta] OR heart dis [ta]) AND
(religio*[majr] OR spiritual*[majr] OR prayer [ti])
We are beginning efforts to implement Spiritual
Direction (SD) within a healthcare system.
We have formed a task force. We have partnered
with a SD training program in the area. We
offered a full day introduction on SD which
was well attended. Is there anyone with the
same vision or farther along in the process?
Would you be willing to dialogue and share
learning experiences? Looking forward to
the conversation. Thank you for responding.
Jeanne Miller-Clark
Corp Manager & Chaplain of the Mind/Body/Spirit Center
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Orlando Florida
Re: I Just Wrote!, The Rev. James
Stapleford (PlainViews, 12/1/2004,
Vol. 1, No. 21)
I almost didn't read Chaplain James Stapleford's piece, "Just Wrote!" in
the 12/1/04 edition of PlainViews. But, battling my inertia, I proceeded
to take the time. I am thankful I did! What a beautiful story and poetic
expression of the inexpressible--a moment of Grace. (The theologian Rosemary
Houghton once wrote something to the effect that the true language of theology
is poetry.) Why, it encourages even me to write! If I don't write poetry,
I can write poetically, which is another way of saying, write with my heart!
Don Moore,
Staff Chaplain
University of Virginia Health Services
Charlottesville, Virginia
Re: Music: A Transformational Tool
in the Health Care Setting, Tami Briggs
(PlainViews, 2/2/2005, Vol. 2,
No. 1)
I was quite moved with the article by Tami Briggs on utilizing music in the
dying process. She is quite right when she says that music speaks to our
hearts and how it brings comfort. When I perform "religious" services
in the psychiatric ward in the hospital, I use music to gather their attention.
I thought I was the only one that use music to aid in ministering, but I'm
glad to see that I am not the only one. In the psychiatric ward the minds
are scattered and I must deal with many mental issues at one time. But by
playing soothing music (I have a CD player) it helps bring their minds in
and I am able to minister to them. Thank you for sharing this insight Tami
and may God continue to bless you and use you as you minister to others.
Chaplain Deborah Heard
Jamaica Hospital
Queens, New York
Regarding Tami Briggs' article on music
for those dying, I agree with this concept.
In our Hospice and Palliative Care Unit at
St. Joseph Hospital in Augusta, Georgia,
we have a volunteer who comes each week.
The beautiful and calming music the harpist
brings the patients, family, and staff is
priceless. We have many positive and surprised
comments on her act of volunteering with
her talented gift. In the rooms, there are
CD players with soothing music for the patients
and families. Many of our families bring
their own. Music is definitely an instrument
used for soothing the soul.
Chaplain Frankie May
St. Joseph Hospital
Augusta, Georgia
In the TalkBack section of the December
15th issue of PlainViews, Chaplain
James Witherington from Tennessee asked if
anyone knew about research on spiritual assessment.
As it happens, The Healthcare Chaplaincy
received a new initiative grant from The
Arthur Vining Davis Foundations to conduct
research in this area. We are now in the
process of developing scales to measure individuals’spiritual
needs and how they are being met by chaplains
in different settings.
To complete this important and challenging
work, we are asking you to give us the benefit
of your professional experience by filling
out the questionnaires at the websites listed
below. The questionnaire at the first web
site asks about the spiritual needs of your
patients/clients. In keeping with Chaplain
Witherington’s suggestion that chaplains
should explore their own spiritual needs,
the questionnaire at the second web site
offers you the opportunity to do so. Each
survey should take less than 10 minutes to
complete. Your participation is completely
anonymous.
A summary of the results of each survey
will be posted on The HealthCare Chaplaincy’s
web site by the end of March. We deeply appreciate
your assistance in this important work. We
believe this research will advance the professional
field of chaplaincy, aid in the training
of student chaplains, and be extremely useful
for clinical practice.
Patient’s Spiritual Needs
Click
Here
Self-evaluation of Spiritual Needs
Click
Here
A response to TalkBack comments made by
Phil Somsen and Stephen Pyle: The APC Commission
on Quality in Pastoral Services has been
actively engaged with Press Ganey over the
past several months. The collaboration has
been very positive, and is reported in the
January/February issue of the APC News. While
the reality at the moment is that spirituality
questions do need to be custom questions
added by each organization, the Quality Commission
has identified and is recommending to the
APC members whose organizations use PG (as
well as others) what those questions might
be. The benefit in this is that by hospitals
using one or more of the same questions we
will have a foundation of benchmarking materials.
Additionally, Press Ganey through this collaboration,
has been very open in asking about and learning
more about professional chaplaincy. They
have committed to utilizing our expertise
as professional spiritual care providers,
particularly in the development of future
White Papers and issues where spirituality
is a factor. While I realize that collaboration
processes such as this can be slow and often
a source of frustration, I am confident that
PG is very supportive of our work and impact
on healthcare and satisfaction issues.
Susan Wintz
Chair, APC Quality Commission
Phoenix, AZ
Re: Being and Doing, The Rev. Cornelius
DeBoer (PlainViews, 1/5/2005,
Vol. 1, No. 23)
Rev. Cornelius DeBoer tackles an interesting
problem in the field of Pastoral Care. I
think that his interest in this subject is
reflected in this short but important article.
Being and Doing go back for the Christian
a long way - Mary and Martha had the same
issue. However, I would like to offer a different
thought. I don't ask my students which they
provided - being with the patient/family/staff
or doing for the patient/family/staff. Instead,
I raise for them the question of how did
they determine which the family needed. For
me, I think that pastors and students as
well as supervisors need to hone their "assessment" skills
more that they need to hone their pastoral
care skills whether it is for being with
or doing for.
Jim Stapleford
Department Director for Spiritual Care and Education
Phoebe Putney Hospital
Albany, Georgia
I am interested in clergy health programs
in your locales. I know that chaplains have
taken the lead in this area. I am a Presbyterian
minister and pastoral counselor and would
like to offer a workshop on self-care here
in Arkansas. If you know of something that
attracts ministers -- e.g., too many think
they don't need it or don't have time --
please let me know.
Richard Miller
buster@aristotle.net
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