How Do Healthcare Executives Understand and Make Decisions about Spiritual Care Provision?. Issue 4 (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Antoine, Aja; Fitchett, George; Sharma, Vanshdeep; Marin, Deborah B.; Garman, Andrew N.; Haythorn, Trace; White, Kelsey; Cadge, Wendy
• Is Part Of: Southern medical journal. Volume 114:Issue 4(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: chaplaincy -- decision making -- executives -- health care -- spiritual care; Medicine -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001230
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-4348

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: This pilot study explores how healthcare leaders understand spiritual care and how that understanding informs staffing and resource decisions. Methods: This study is based on interviews with 11 healthcare leaders, representing 18 hospitals in 9 systems, conducted between August 2019 and February 2020. Results: Leaders see the value of chaplains in terms of their work supporting staff in tragic situations and during organizational change. They aim to continue to maintain chaplaincy efforts in the midst of challenging economic realities. Conclusions: Chaplains' interactions with staff alongside patient outcomes are a contributing factor in how resources decisions are made about spiritual care. Abstract : The Joint Commission has required all hospitals to address the religious and spiritual needs of patients since 1969. Many hospitals employ spiritual care providers to meet these needs. Healthcare executives make important decisions about deciding whether and how to support these providers, whose services support important patient outcomes but are not directly revenue producing. This pilot study explores how healthcare executives understand chaplaincy and spiritual care and how this understanding supports staffing and resource decisions.