We care about what matters to you
Life's pains, joys and decisions are best faced in the community. The Department of Spiritual Care at AnMed understands the importance of offering a listening ear, the value of a compassionate presence, and the significant role that religious beliefs and spiritual resources can play in decisions about one's life and health.
What is Spiritual Care?
The Department of Spiritual Care promotes a holistic approach to care. Respecting and honoring the beliefs of all individuals, we seek to nurture and support you, as well as your faith, in good times and bad.
At AnMed we practice an interdisciplinary team approach to caring for patients. Our chaplains function as members of many interdisciplinary teams – offering assistance with spiritual assessments, family support, end of life counseling, ethical dilemmas, religious rituals and bereavement support.
When can Spiritual Care help?
In offering "soul care" to patients and their families, chaplains offer an atmosphere of acceptance, compassion, genuine care, reconciliation and dignity of the patient as paramount. This ministry of presence and listening aims to bring God's presence in love and comfort to patients and families. The following is a list of occasions when spiritual care is most often called upon for assistance:
- When a loved one has had a sudden change of health, is seriously ill, has a life-limiting illness or is facing death
- When a patient or family member grieves in anticipation of the death of a loved one
- When facing a significant surgery
- When facing an adjustment to a physical disability
- When going through a long hospitalization or convalescence
- When a baby is born
- When a loved one is suspected of having a substance abuse problem
- When family or marital difficulties arise
- When feeling discouraged or that life has lost its meaning
- When a loved one has become despondent for no apparent reason
- When the behavior of a loved one shows marked and rapid change
Services offered by the Department of Spiritual Care
- Direct patient, family and staff care
- Follow-up visits as appropriate
- Prayer support
- Religious services, sacraments or rituals as requested
- Family conferences with physicians, patients or families
- Advance directives, ethical, emotional and spiritual consultations
- Support with end of life decisions
- Limited individual, marital and family counseling
- Cooperation with other faith groups to advocate for spiritual needs
- Trauma support
- Grief and loss support
- Community clergy referrals
- Staff support
- Resource for community programs – bereavement, ethics, palliative care, advanced directives, grief and loss
Meditation and reflection is available to patients, family and staff in the following locations:
- In the chapel on the first floor of AnMed Women’s and Children’s Hospital near the main lobby. Times for services, including holiday and special services will be announced and posted.
- In the chapel on the first floor of AnMed Medical Center to the back of the main lobby. Services are offered at 10 a.m. on Sundays. Holiday and special services will be announced and posted.
Interfaith ministries and other services are also offered.