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Since 1865, Chaplains working in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers have been providing care in support of the spiritual dimension of our veterans’ health. Though Chaplains have a deep appreciation of how one’s spirituality and, perhaps, religious practices and beliefs contribute to the overall health and wellness of a patient, over the last 5 to 10 years research indicates the positive impacts of religion and spirituality.

In Spirituality Theology and Health, a journal published by the Center for the Study of Religion/Spirituality and Health at Duke University, twenty years of study and 25 research studies discovered the following:

  • Many people when they become sick either mentally or physically turn to religious beliefs and practices to help them cope.
  • These beliefs and practices are usually associated with better mental and even better physical health (lower blood pressure, better immune functioning, longer life span, and etc).
  • These studies show that people who are actively involved in a religious community, who pray regularly and who report that religion is an instrumental part of their lives, often experience less depression, less anxiety, greater hope, more purpose and meaning, and recover more quickly from health-damaging emotions such as depression.
  • They also discovered a fascinating link between devout religious practice and good physical health.
      Leon Jaraff, the author of Investigating the Power of Prayer also addresses the power of prayer in health and happiness. He concluded that the prayed-for patients did better, had better spirits, and recovered quicker.

      As we continue to be advocates for integration of the spiritual dimension of care into the healthcare delivery system, we discover how the spirit and mission of the system also contributes, like in the case of the patient, to the overall health and wellness of the organization.

      A patient integrating spiritual and religious dimensions in their health finds support and purpose in their life and situation that leads to better health outcomes. A healthcare organization by integrating its mission into its overall effectiveness and organizational health and well-being can likewise help improve outcomes.