STAFF CHAPLAIN COMM HOSPITALS

General Purpose

As a full member of the healthcare team, the chaplain assists with emotional and spiritual issues in the healing process. Specifically, the chaplain uses professional training and certification to assist patients, loved ones, and staff/ team members to more fully understand life's events in relation to spiritual and emotional well-being, addressing both personal and professional needs. In addition, the chaplain supports departmental initiatives.

Eseential Duties

• Initiate and provide spiritual care to patients/families/loved ones with priority given to referrals, critical care, and end-of-life patients.
• Complete appropriate written and electronic documentation, including in patient charts.
• Provide pastoral care to team members, physicians, volunteers, and hospital students, as needed.
• Work closely with team members to ensure the Spiritual Services office is managed appropriately.
• Assist with advanced care planning by providing compassionate, values-based guidance to help patients align their personal beliefs with their healthcare wishes, facilitating meaningful conversations with those preparing advanced directives
• Shared responsibilities for supporting on-call chaplains including but not limited to: providing on-call backup.
• Develop, implement, and communicate Spiritual Services Department goals and objectives.
• In collaboration with the team, will plan, organize, direct and evaluate the spiritual care function and services in order to make recommendations for continuous quality improvements including the development of programs, projects, and policy updates.
• Participate in the talent acquisition process when there are vacancies in the department.
• Help to interpret and evaluate ethical and moral situations in health care delivery to ensure the dignity and rights of the patient.
• Provide understanding of, and education on, spiritual and religious issues to the health system as appropriate.
• Serve on planning and decision-making committees of the health care system as appropriate.
• Provide and coordinate worship, ritual, and sacramental experiences for team members and patients.
• May serve as invocator for hospital and community events.
• Work with local clergy in the delivery of quality spiritual/pastoral care to meet the needs of a spiritually and religiously diverse patient base.