Posted: 11/5/2014
Every member of the Pastoral Care department is dedicated to a collaborative spirit of care that addresses the diverse needs of every person in a way that promotes spiritual well-being and facilitates the healing process.
“Parkland has an extremely diverse patient population with a wide variety of religious and spiritual needs. The Chaplains and other staff with Pastoral Care strive to meet these needs and provide patients, families and visitors with comfort and support during what is often a trying time,” said Linda Wilkerson, Director of Pastoral Care.
The Pastoral Care department offers many resources for patients and families, including:
- Round-the-clock support for all spiritual and emotional needs of patients, family members and visitors with in-house pastoral care coverage.
- Pastoral care for patients, families and staff for all deaths, codes, Level I traumas (and many Level II traumas)
- Visits with every adult ICU patient every 24 hours
- Visits with every inpatient at least once every six days
- Assistance with ethics questions with families
- Grief support to family through in-person groups and mailed grief support information in the year following the patient’s death.
In addition, Parkland’s Pastoral Care department has a strong focus on training. Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) provides the professional training needed for a career in chaplaincy. At Parkland, theological students, ordained clergy, members of religious orders and qualified lay people are trained to minister to people in crisis situations. CPE students engage clinical units at Parkland in either a one year residency or a summer intensive program.
Finally, Parkland has developed a Pastoral Care Associates training program that teaches volunteers how to meet the spiritual and emotional needs of patients, family members and staff. Pastoral Care associates do not visit to evangelize people; instead, they listen, offer an empathic response and meet each person at the point of their need.
Learn more about Parkland's Pastoral Care department at www.parklandhospital.com/pastoralcare.