How Hospital Chaplains Can Help Patients
As a plastic and reconstructive surgeon-in-training and an aspiring interfaith leader, I often face questions that do not have a simple answer or simply do not have an answer. I am trained to offer a surgical answer, but that may not always be the most prudent response.
Several years ago, I attended training at Kaiser South Sac to become a Spiritual Care Program volunteer. The training was led by the Hospital Chaplain, Reverend Elias Burgos, who is still there today. His philosophy was that the volunteers of the Spiritual Care Program should reflect the religious diversity of the patients. I was happy to serve as a volunteer for over a year.
Unfortunately, with the onset of Covid-19, I heard that all the volunteers were let go, and Rev. Burgos could only contact patients by phone. I pray the program will be able to do its work again, as it’s sorely needed by those in a hospital setting that need someone to talk to, to pray with, or just be a presence there for the patient or family.
As Rev. Burgos frequently said, “all the other people going in and out of the patient rooms are there to do something – give out medications, do a procedure, take vital signs, etc. The Spiritual Care Program volunteers and Chaplain are there just to BE with the patient and family, in whatever way they need”. And that is sorely needed when people are looking at grime diagnoses, serious operations, or when procedures fail and time is short.
Serene Erby
President, Interfaith Council