Chaplaincy Services provides pastoral care to patients, their families, Tuomey staff and the community through ecumenical services and programs designed to foster spiritual and emotional support. Chaplaincy at Tuomey Healthcare System represents the larger spiritual and religious community through a “ministry of presence,” working in consultation with each patient and/or family members upon their request for religious representation. The department has fostered enriching relationships with local clergy to help provide those important services.
- Religious consultation: Chaplains function in a
transitory environment, helping patients and families identify and
interpret their faith concerns and religious needs -- from birth to
death, through hurting and healing.
- Clergy coordination: Chaplaincy acts as a
liaison between local clergy and the hospital and assists clergy through
visitations and services for the members of their faith groups.
- Spiritual direction: Chaplains uphold the
dignity of each patient and family member as a worthy recipient of grace
and love by listening and responding with pastoral care, and guiding
them as they unravel and communicate their desire to deepen their
spiritual relationships.
- Pastoral counseling: Chaplains are equipped and
clinically trained to listen, observe and engage in counseling as it
relates to spiritual and emotional support to patients, outpatients,
families and staff and when appropriate and -- in accordance to hospital
policy, state and federal, law -- make referrals.
- Ethical advisement: The chaplain functions in
consultation with Tuomey Healthcare System to provide helpful assistance
to patients and families as they struggle with issues of policy,
research and clinical decision-making.
- Patients’ right representation: The chaplain
assists, upon request, with patients’ rights issues, including helping
the terminally ill make end-of-life decisions.
You can contact the Tuomey Chaplaincy Services Department at 803-774-8757 or
kenneth.smith@tuomey.com.