Professional Chaplains in Comprehensive Patient-Centered Care

摘要

There is growing recognition of the valuable role that professional chaplains provide in the medical setting. Yet, most physicians are unfamiliar with or misinformed about chaplains and how they can be effectively utilized in providing quality patient care. Many physicians also feel unskilled and unprepared to identify or discuss pa- tients' spiritual or religious concerns that arise. Using case studies, this article provides an overview of the training and skills of professional chaplains in a medical setting. Chaplains can be effective partners in assessing and treating patients' needs. They also provide ethical and spiritual support to the medical team. In an increas- ingly culturally diverse patient population, chaplains can offer a proactive, ongoing response to the needs of diverse patients. When integrated into medical teams, chaplains can bring fresh perspectives to patient care and are a high- ly skilled professional resource for successfully managing patients' spiritual needs.