Standards Of Spiritual Care
- Chaplains will serve all persons without prejudice. The spiritual traditions and practices of all persons will be respected and facilitated, and chaplains will not proselytize.
- Pastoral care providers are either certified chaplains or under the direct supervision of certified, supervising chaplains.
- Chaplains are active members of the interdisciplinary team - the totality of health includes body, mind, and spirit.
- Clinical Pathway indicators guide other care team members in the effective use of pastoral care.
- Pastoral Care plays a key role in care of persons undergoing major life changes, or who are dying.
- Pastoral Care assists patients, families, and staff who are facing ethical or moral decisions, a health crisis or, emotional difficulties around health concerns.
- Chaplains make a prompt and effective response to requests for pastoral care from patients, family members, and staff.
- Chaplains make referral to and seek consultation with patients' spiritual resources in the community.
- Chaplains assist with social and/or financial needs of patients/families not otherwise addressed by means of the "Chaplain's Fund" program.
- Chaplains play a key role in assisting with Advance Directives and the Organ Donor process.
- Chaplains utilize spiritual, family, emotional, and developmental histories to provide indicators for prevention program(s) and/or treatment intervention(s).
- Chaplains provide information, education, and support to improve the total health of patients and plan members.
- The Department of Chaplaincy Services provides training in pastoral care for lay and ordained ministers.
- Chaplains conduct themselves with integrity and honesty, maintain appropriate professional boundaries with patients, families and staff and refrain from emotional, financial, sexual or any other form of misconduct, injustice or exploitation.
Created April 17, 1998
