Chaplains' roles expand in redesign

CARE 2000, the patient-focused redesign at Mercy Hospital Scripps Health San Diego, is significantly changing the roles of the facility's chaplains. On one hand, Mercy's chaplains have received training the roles of other care givers, learning, for example, how to give bed baths, take vital signs, and apply CPR. On the other the chaplains have taught courses in which other care givers learned, for example, about the differences between spirituality and religion, the grieving process, and spiritual growth. Through such cross training, Mercy's chaplains have increased their visibility in the hospital and the community, improved their communication with other care givers, and enhanced other care givers' understanding of the importance of spiritual care.