Spiritual Care Week, celebrated this year on Oct. 20-26, recognizes various ministries provided by chaplains and pastoral care counselors, educators and providers. Spiritual care is an essential aspect of whole-person healthcare. Here, Jamie Gump, Aultman Health System staff chaplain, describes the role of spiritual care in healthcare.

Spiritual Care is exactly that – care of the spirit. It is not faith-based or religion-based, though religion and faith can play a huge part in many people’s spiritual well-being. Spirituality is where people find meaning, make connections and receive values. In healthcare that treats the whole person, the chaplain’s task is to help a patient focus on these three aspects of well-being and find strength for their current situation.

Spiritual care is a crucial aspect of whole-person healthcare. “One can distinguish four basic dimensions of human existence: the physical [body], the social, the psychological [emotional] and the spiritual,” writes psychologist and philosopher Emmy Van Deurzen. “On each of these dimensions people encounter the world and shape their attitude out of their particular take on their experience.”

Physicians work mainly in the physical dimension, perhaps with forays into the emotional and social realms. Nurses address all four areas, yet are most often in the physical, emotional and social dimensions. Chaplains bring their expertise to the fourth dimension, spiritual, while also delving into emotional and social areas.

The Role of a Health System Chaplain

As part of the hospital interdisciplinary team, a hospital chaplain provides spiritual and emotional care to patients/families/staff by “sitting with” them where they are, regardless of faith tradition or without a faith tradition. A hospital chaplain listens to and is present with them in their apprehension, their fear, their joy, their grief – with the goal of helping them find and use the spiritual and emotional strength that will help them in their present challenges, which every person has.

A chaplain’s desire is to help a patient find their inner strength, which can be elusive during an emotional hospital stay. Many people find their strength through faith, a belief system and as part of a faith community. Others find their strength through family, friends, nature, pets and more. No matter the source of a patient’s strength, a chaplain helps them make use of that strength during a hospital stay.

Chaplains do not impose any belief system on a patient during a trying time in their health journey without invitation. Professional chaplains work with a patient, knowing that what a patient has on hand in this moment is what will aid them in this moment. The chaplain uses active listening to hear the patient’s strengths and encourage the patient to see and use them.

Chaplains’ Community Connections

The intimate connections that chaplains form with patients, families and staff can endure even beyond walls of the hospitals. This continuing care may be a simple encouraging phone call or even presiding over baptisms, weddings and funerals.

Aultman hospice chaplains care for patients and families in their homes throughout our community, and they host special bereavement and memorial services throughout the year. Aultman chaplains can be available for grief work with families. Aultman chaplains are also available to care for those affected by community tragedies, industrial accidents and more.

Spiritual Care at Aultman

Aultman’s Spiritual Care department includes seven chaplains throughout Aultman Health System. Here’s how to reach a chaplain.

• Aultman Hospital: Patients or their families may request a chaplain visit when being admitted. Once admitted, patients and families may request a chaplain by calling 330-363-6402 or asking their nurse.

• Aultman Alliance Community Hospital: Patients or their families may request a chaplain visit when being admitted or by making a request through a nurse or social worker or by calling the hospital operator.

• Aultman Orrville Hospital: Patients and family may request a chaplain visit when being admitted or by asking a nurse to make a request.

• Aultman Hospice and Palliative Care: When you are admitted, Spiritual Care will contact you to talk about visits. After that, patients or their families may send a message to a chaplain through the Hospice and Palliative Care contact number or by asking staff to make a request for a chaplain visit.

An on-call chaplain is available evenings, nights and weekends for critical needs only. Visit requests may be made by Aultman staff.