The Pastoral Services department provides for the spiritual and emotional wellness of patients, their families, and the hospital staff. This department is an integral part of the interdisciplinary team within Mercyhealth’s patient-centered culture. Department members engage others in their experience of the Sacred, being sensitive to a wide range of cultures and faiths, and respectful of spiritual or religious preferences.

In a professional, competent, and informed manner, Pastoral Care Services affirms the dignity of each person and explores sources of strength and hope on an individual basis. Professional chaplains do not impose a system of beliefs, but rather seek to help those in emotional and spiritual distress use their own source of strength to cope with the circumstances in which they find themselves.

Examples of the ways professional chaplains serve within the hospital setting include, but are not limited to:

• Completes a spiritual assessment as part of the patient’s electronic medical record
• Intervention with difficult patient/family circumstances
• Works cooperatively with Palliative Care staff to help determine goals the patient has for their care
• Offers empathic listening to those faced with a difficult diagnosis
• Provides spiritual/religious resources including:
  • Holy scriptures for major faith groups
  • Provide sacramental ministry as requested for patients, families and staff members
  • Shabbat candles, rosaries and prayer rugs
• Provides pastoral counsel for those struggling with life events or decisions
• Initiates and/or participates in patient care conferences
• Provides end of life support