As a doctor, Robert Klitzman knows that healthcare providers are well-prepared to address the physical needs of patients in hospitals, but may struggle with the emotional and spiritual challenges they face. This realization prompted Klitzman, a psychiatry professor at Columbia University, to study and write a book about hospital chaplains.
In a recent episode of the First Opinion Podcast, Klitzman is joined by Molly O’Neil Frank, a certified chaplain and ordained minister at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. They discuss the role of chaplains in patient care, highlighting their importance in addressing existential questions and providing emotional support to patients, especially as religious affiliation in the U.S. declines.
Chaplains, who are employed by hospitals or come from the local community, play a crucial role in offering spiritual guidance, performing rituals, and providing comfort to patients and their families. O’Neil Frank explains that chaplains are trained to meet people at their spiritual level during times of illness and distress, acting as a source of strength and solace.
Beyond offering prayers and listening to patients, chaplains also facilitate communication between patients, families, and medical teams, and offer support to healthcare staff during challenging situations. Their diverse responsibilities encompass blessings, marriages, baptisms, and end-of-life ceremonies, making them integral members of the healthcare team.
Klitzman and O’Neil Frank emphasize the significance of chaplains in filling the gap left by the decline in religious affiliations, providing patients with a source of spiritual comfort and guidance. To learn more about the role of chaplains in healthcare, you can listen to the full podcast episode featuring Klitzman and O’Neil Frank.
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