Skip to main content

Time to Call the Hospital Chaplain

Sometime ago Don Berwick, MD spoke about 20 improvements that doctors could make in the end of life care of their patients that begins in a simple conversation. Berwick recommended the following considerations as his top three suggestions:
  1. Ask yourself as you see patients, "Would I be surprised if this patient died in the next few months?" For those "sick enough to die," prioritize the patient's concerns - often symptom relief, family support, continuity, advance planning, or spirituality.
  2. To eliminate anxiety and fear, chronically ill patients must understand what is likely to happen. When you see a patient who is "sick enough to die" - tell the patient, and start counseling and planning around that possibility.
  3. To understand your patients, ask (1) "What do you hope for, as you live with this condition,"(a) "What do you fear?," (b) It is usually hard to know when death is close. If you were to die soon, what would be left undone in your life?," and (4) "How are things going for you and your family?" Document and arrange care to meet each patient's priorities.

All too often the task of finishing the business of living gets left undone because the end of life conversation has never taken place for whatever reason.  A referral to the Clinical Chaplain would of course be an appropriate action in the hospital setting. 

Clinical Pastoral Training: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 

College of Pastoral Supervision & Psychotherapy 

Popular posts from this blog

Association of Professional Chaplains Experiencing Significant Financial Challenges

The Association of Professional Chaplains recently informed its membership that the organization is experiencing “significant financial challenges.” The APC president, Sue Wintz, related in a letter to the APC membership that the association has made some $80,000 cuts to its budget. The president’s letter requested that APC members consider making a donation of at least $25, 00 to help off set any additional cuts which might have to be made to the organization’s budget. APC Board Certified Chaplains pay annual dues of $265.00 representing some of the highest fees in the profession.
Read more
Master Fezziwig Knew a Thing or Two about Celebrating Employees Borne there by the Spirit of Christmas-Past the scene opens: It is Christmas once more and Scrooge is standing outside the warehouse where once he was an apprentice. They go inside and Scrooge is delighted to find his former boss – Mr Fezziwig. Mr Fezziwig is instructing a young Scrooge and his fellow apprentice, Dick, to ready the premises for their annual Christmas party. The scene fills as in come a fiddler, Mrs Fezziwig, all the other Fezziwigs together with all the employees. They enjoy music and dancing and when finally the joyous evening comes to a close Scrooge is forced to reflect on his own treatment as an employer regarding his staff. “When the clock struck eleven, this domestic ball broke up. Mr and Mrs Fezziwig took their stations, one on either side of the door, and shaking hands with every person individually as he or she went out, wished him or her a Merry Christmas. When every...
Read more

BOARD CERTIFICATION FOR CLINICAL CHAPLAINS

The College of Pastoral Supervision & Psychotherapy CPSP is an international, theologically based covenant community, offering accreditation and certification to individuals and programs that meet standards of expertise in pastoral counseling, pastoral supervision and psychotherapy. CPSP confers Diplomate, Pastoral Counselor, Board Certified Clinical Chaplain and Board Certified Associate Clinical Chaplain credentials to persons who demonstrate competence, meet its standards, aspire to its principles, and commit to its discipline. CPSP confers accreditation on clinical pastoral education (CPE) programs and pastoral counseling training centers.CPSP a community in which power is located in the grass roots, with a minimal hierarchy and minimal budget.CPSP a community in which power is located in the grass roots, with a minimal hierarchy and minimal budget. The CPSP Chapter is a group of at least six members, but not more than twelve, who commit themselves to the Covenant and to furthe...
Read more