Developing a Team Approach for Whole Person Care

Dan Fountain, M.D.Sherry O’Donnell, D.O.GMM - Appendix

Importance

Care for mind, soul, and spirit takes time and trainingNo one can adequately do it allAll dimensions of care should be readily availableIdeally under one roof and without financial barriers

Health personnel pyramid

Prof.

Auxiliary

Lay helpers

Physicians, Nurses, etc

Technicians,LPNs,

Volunteers

Psycho-spiritual personnel pyramid

Prof.

Licensed

No one

Psychiatrists, PhDs

Counselors

Need to fill

Primary level of psycho-spiritual care

This is the level we must fillThe entry levelIn providers’ officesIn the clinic, O.P.D., emergency roomPeople trained to listen, encourage, and offer spiritual care

The caregiving team

Health professionalsPastoral caregivers in some casesVolunteer spiritual caregiversWhole staff and administrationPastoral support in the communityIntercessory groups

Why train lay people?

Many are available and want to helpThey are volunteersThey can be excellent listeners and supportersThey have timeMost people with heart burdens do not need professional helpThey need a listening ear

What do we call them?

Spiritual caregiversLay ministersPatient advocatesYou may prefer another term

Qualifications

Personal relationship with JesusGood knowledge of the bibleA call from God to help hurting peopleSpiritual maturityRight attitudes – compassion, sincerity, humility, willingness to sacrificeAbility to maintain confidentiality

Recruitment

From area churchesInitial approach is to pastors and church leaders. Their support is criticalPersonal application formPastoral recommendation formPersonal contact or interview can help

Training involved

Health professionals must be trainedUp to four hours in wholeness, the centrality of Jesus in healing, how to discern ‘heart’ problems, how to refer to SCGs, how to pray with sick persons, team dynamicsAttendance at a METS conference or the Saline Solution can helpDoctors not trained in this approach hinder the process

Training of spiritual caregivers

28 to 24 hours of interactive and participatory trainingGod, Medicine, and Miracles for background readingHelping Hurting People as training manual

Staff orientation

The whole staff should be aware of this approachThey need to demonstrate compassion, empathy, gentleness, a desire to helpA few may give care themselvesSome of them may need care

Who to refer for spiritual care?

Psychosomatic complaintsCardio-vascular diseaseDiabetesChronic pain syndromesChronic digestive, resp, infectious diseasesAuto-immune diseasesMalignancies; liver diseaseAny with heavy stress or inner burdens

Making the bridge

Health staff are first to see sick peopleThey can then refer people to SCGsSome people resist personal and spiritual care – “Is it all in my head?”They resist taking personal responsibility in dealing with their illness

Overcoming resistance

Explain what medical science now knows about the influence of personal issues in health and healingUse Proverbs 14 : 30Use simple examples: what sudden fear does to pulse, stomach, sweat glands, etc

Making the introduction

Ideally the health provider should take the sick person to the SPG and make a brief introductionThis helps establish the caring relationIt shows the sick person the importance of this aspect of care

A counseling room

A special private place is importantShould be near the clinical areaCaregivers, when unoccupied, can be in the waiting area or with staff

Regular contacts

Between health and spiritual caregiversTo discuss results, problems, and particular situationsSpiritual caregivers are under the supervision of the professional staff

Coordination

Any volunteer group needs a coordinatorTo make schedules, changes, and assure communicationTo give regular encouragementThis can be a staff personIt can be one of the volunteersCoordinator should be available for prayerPrayer is essential for success and fruit

Keeping records

SCGs may keep a short note of each contact for future personal reference. The only official record should be: seen by a SCG on ……dateGood to keep a register of all who receive spiritual care

Confidentiality

SCGs needs to be well informed of thisAny breach should be handled immediatelyA confidentiality form should be signed

Other aspects

Bibles to give awayOther helpful literatureA list of other available social support services in the communityA list of churches that can be suggested

Observational research

An ideal situation for seeing the effects of spiritual care on various conditionsWe need to document the effectiveness of spiritual careA carefully designed protocol is necessaryCan provide evidence for the importance of spiritual care

Importance of intercession

Regular prayer with staffRegular prayer with spiritual caregiversPrayer support in churches of staff and caregiversPerhaps a special intercessory groupThis is spiritual warfare

Legal aspects

Consult with legal advisorsPossibility of establishing a separate legal entity without assetsHave a clear mission statement available for all to see: “This is a Christian clinic……..”

Culture war

Spirituality is for church, not the clinicYou can’t bring Jesus into the clinicIt is unethical to share your faith with a sick personYou can only help them with their spirituality

How should we respond?

This approach is evidence-basedExternal religion and internal faith have positive effects on health and healingThe approach is patient-directedWe offer spiritual care and pursue it only with those who are interested

Discussion

How do you see this fitting into your situation?Discuss with others and share ideasWhat steps do you foresee taking in strategic planning for this?