Most patients and families want the best possible hospital and healthcare. When they require care, they may ask friends for references or search online for information. Mostly, they want to feel comfortable and have trust in their healthcare providers.
In times of illness or injury, doctors will visit, tests will be conducted, results given and decisions made. By this time, a silent partner has entered the picture. Probably no one has spoken about it. Maybe the patient has mentioned it to a close family member or friend. Sleepless nights, shattered nerves and unrelenting worrying seem to be taking over. Mortality has come to the forefront!
In this situation, patients realize, maybe for the first time, that their life is not in their hands. They may have chosen the best hospital and have confidence in their healthcare team. But something is still missing. Questions keep coming up that they may not feel comfortable addressing and certainly don’t have the answers for.
There it is again, the abstract, the questions that seem to have no answers, the looking back on life and wondering about what the future may bring. Why me? What about my family? Is this fair? What about prayer, God, a higher power? Where is my help going to come from?
This is where the hospital chaplain steps in to complete the circle of patient-centered healthcare. Treating the total person is necessary for the best patient outcomes. As human beings we exist on several levels – physical, social, emotional and spiritual. All of these levels are intertwined and essential. None of them stand alone. We are incomplete if any of these facets of our beings are ignored or fail to be addressed.
Chaplains have the very humbling experience of being with patients and their families as they face these critical times. We meet our patients and their families where the moment finds them and walk with them, side by side.
Depending on the individuals and their situation, we may gently lead or encourage, or we may determine it is best to step back and wait. Perhaps they just need us to be present or pray.
Where are the answers? They may be in our walk together or the patient acknowledging they feel a certain sense of peace and comfort.
As chaplains, we play an essential role within the circle of total patient care so that both the physical and spiritual needs of each patient are considered.
