Present in Times of Crisis: The Impact of COVID-19 on Activities, Visibility, and Recognizability of Chaplains in a Healthcare Organization in the Netherlands. Issue Volume 8:Number 2(2020)Special Issue (5th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wierstra, Iris; Jacobs, Gaby; Schuhmann, Carmen
• Is Part Of: Health and social care chaplaincy. Volume 8:Number 2(2020)Special Issue
• Page Start: 191
• Page End: 205
• Publication Date: 2020-08-05
• Subjects: visibility -- the netherlands -- chaplaincy -- long-term care -- covid-19 -- spiritual care; Chaplains, Hospital -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Pastoral care -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Patients -- Religious life -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 259.411094105
• DOI: 10.1558/hscc.41833
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2051-5553

Abstract

Abstract : This article addresses the question of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on the activities, visibility, and recognizability of a chaplaincy team in a large healthcare facility in the Netherlands. In the context of a participatory action research project aimed at developing a clear chaplaincy profile in order to increase the visibility and recognizability of chaplains in the organization, the COVID-19 outbreak has had a surprising effect. The chaplains reported an unexpected and sudden increase in their visibility and a strengthening of their profile due to the pandemic. In this article, we explore how the chaplains have responded to the COVID-19 outbreak and reflect on the question of what lessons may be learned from the recent past period regarding visibility and recognizability of chaplaincy in healthcare organizations.