Spiritual Care Services

Hunt Regional Healthcare is committed to improving health by providing quality, cost effective, and service oriented spiritual care.

This part of our mission happens by a proactive stance toward patients and families in planning to provide competent expertise and intervention.

Emergent or urgent inpatient needs may be referred to 903-408-5000.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between spirituality and religion?

The Joint Commission, which sets standards and evaluates healthcare facilities states, “Spirituality can be defined as a complex and multidimensional part of the human experience – our inner belief system. … Religion refers to a belief system to which one adheres … [involving] particular rituals and practices – the externals of our belief system. … Not everyone is religious, nor is religion a requirement for spirituality.”

2. What is the difference between religious/pastoral care, chaplaincy, and spiritual services?

Religious care in the hospital setting is ideally provided through an existing relationship of the patient with an established religious entity (church, temple, masque, chapter, etc). The provider of this service may be called a pastor, reverend, rabbi, imam, priest, bishop, shaman, etc.

During healthcare crisis, long held beliefs and values may be strained or questioned – the presence of a known religious care provider can speak to critical events.

Hunt Regional Healthcare knows how important this resource can be and is glad to facilitate contact and ministry of all community clergy (spiritual leaders) as allowed by federal regulation.

Hospital Chaplaincy is a healthcare profession. The hospital Chaplain is a health care provider involved in treatment (direct care) of patients, an exempted health care provider as defined by federal regulation (HIPAA), allowing for patient record access when operating within the current standards of medical practice.

The Department of Spiritual Services is directed by the Chaplain, who is responsible to ensure compliance with Patient Rights and Ethical standards of The Joint Commission, and federal/state laws, by which Hunt Regional Healthcare is measured accountable. The Chaplain reports directly to Hunt Regional Healthcare administration, is evaluated and accountable to Hunt Regional Healthcare policies and procedures, and included in the Hunt Regional Healthcare organization chart.

This position (Director) requires certification by a member of the Spiritual Care Collaborative, and also requires documentation of interventions in the record of the patient.

Pastoral care includes the emotional and spiritual support of patients, whether in partnership with community clergy or provided by the certified Chaplain. Addressing common and basic human needs, all pastoral care seeks balance in the life journey during crisis. This care may be embodied and focused on shared ritual or set of beliefs; the mutual focus of relationship between a patient and spiritual leader.

The Hospital Chaplain’s primary role is in the health care setting, focusing on the spiritual clinical needs in accomplishing the medical goals of the patient in close cooperation with other health care team members.

3. Who can be a hospital Chaplain? What are the requirements?

As with other healthcare providers who work in the hospital, the Chaplain has specialized clinical training (in addition to masters level theological preparation and religious endorsement). Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is the core educational requirement, the minimum standard being an approved program consisting of 1600 hours as an intern and resident in a healthcare setting.

As with other professions, upon completion of education and employment (at least one year) in a healthcare setting, a candidate may submit application to be screened by an approved national professional organization. If application is found to be in order, the candidate must stand before a state board of examination. If the candidate is found to have no deficiencies in competency, certification may be recommended.

Continuing certification requires documented annual education, periodic peer review, and payment of dues to a recognized professional, certifying organization.

4. Where can I find a list of these organizations? Are there standards of practice?

The Spiritual Care Collaborative web site lists the professional organizations along with Common Standards for Professional Chaplaincy, Common Code of Ethics, and Principles for Processing Complaints.

5. I always thought a chaplain was a church preacher who volunteered in a hospital?

No. The role of the professional hospital Chaplain is focused on the wellness of the individual as it is impacted by spiritual health; informed by graduate theological education, having clinical training, certified to be competent in practice, employed and accountable to the healthcare facility, and not confined to a specific set of religious beliefs or practices.

This is why a Board Certified Chaplain is able to assess needs and provide treatment interventions to all patients, no matter what their spiritual (religious) beliefs, or lack of beliefs.

6. What about separation of church and state? What does the government say about this?

From the inception of Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement for Graduate Medical Education (GME) at teaching hospitals, training through the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE, Inc.) has been supported with tax funding.

This was challenged and upheld on two occasions by the Provider Reimbursement Review Board. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with assistance of the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), has ruled that such services are included in the hospital’s allowable cost.

For more than 30 years Medicare has recognized Chaplaincy as having a beneficial and therapeutic effect on the medical condition, therefore, the costs a provider incurs to furnish such certified care to patients are considered patient care related costs.

These, and other, rulings codify certified Chaplaincy as health care provision in the opinion of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Chaplains are considered health care providers, having received clinical education from a Department of Education Accredited training program.

7. What does spirituality have to do with medicine and health sciences?

More than 80% of U.S. medical schools have a course in spirituality, recognizing a factor which contributes to health. As an essential part of each human being, this connection is grounded in the biopsychosocial-spiritual model of care. Spiritual beliefs can impact patients’ illness and healthcare decision-making, as well as influence diagnosis, treatment, and coping.

The Association of American Medical Colleges helped to develop this meaning:

"Spirituality is recognized as a factor that contributes to health in many persons. The concept of spirituality is found in all cultures and societies. It is expressed in an individual’s search for ultimate meaning through participation in religion and/or belief in God, family, naturalism, rationalism, humanism and the arts. All these factors can influence how patients and healthcare professionals perceive health and illness and how they interact with one another”.

8. What association has been shown between health indices and spirituality?

There is significant association with measures of adjustment and management of symptoms. Coping supported by spirituality is associated with lower levels of discomfort as well as reduced hostility, anxiety, and social isolation.

Spiritual well-being, particularly a sense of meaning and peace, are significantly associated with an ability to continue to enjoy life despite high levels of pain and fatigue, and lower levels of depression.

9. What are positive aspects of addressing patients’ emotional and spiritual needs?

Emotional well-being has been shown to be predictive of survival and functional independence among older patients. Studies indicate positive clinical effects and decreased anxiety from preemptive psychological interventions that target patients at risk of distress.

Reduction of emotional distress in coronary heart disease patients improves long-term prognosis. Hospitalized patients place a high value on their emotional and spiritual needs, addressing these needs may reduce length of stay and decrease costs.

Meeting of emotional needs is associated with satisfaction and desire to patronize a specific hospital, and decreases malpractice risk.

10. Will people get upset if asked about “spiritual stuff”?

Simple inquiry about an area such as spiritual (religious) coping may be experienced by the patient as an opening for further exploration and validation of the importance of this experience. Evidence suggests that such an inquiry will be experienced as intrusive and distressing by only a very small proportion of patients.

Spiritual Care Services
Melvin Ray, Director
2nd Floor Hunt Regional Medical Center at Greenville
903-453-6100