Chaplain Leadership During COVID-19: An International Expert Panel

Area of Science:

• Healthcare leadership
• Spiritual care
• Pandemic response

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted healthcare systems globally.
• The role and integration of chaplains within healthcare settings faced new challenges and opportunities.
• Understanding effective leadership strategies for chaplains is vital for optimizing their contributions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key chaplain leadership factors perceived by international experts.
• To explore how these leadership factors influenced chaplains' roles during the pandemic.
• To determine the impact of leadership on chaplains' integration and perceived value in healthcare.

Main Methods:

• Convened an international expert panel.
• Gathered expert perceptions on critical chaplain leadership elements.
• Analyzed qualitative data to identify emergent themes.

Main Results:

• Six central leadership themes were identified: professional confidence, executive engagement and trust-building, decision-making, innovation and creativity, building collegial connections, and promoting cultural competencies.
• These themes were perceived as crucial for chaplains' integration and value.
• Leadership factors directly influenced chaplains' contributions during the pandemic.

Conclusions:

• Chaplain leadership is integral to the effective functioning and perceived value of chaplains in healthcare.
• The identified leadership themes provide a framework for developing and supporting chaplains in crisis situations.
• Enhanced leadership can improve chaplains' integration and impact within evolving healthcare environments.