Spiritual care seeks to help patients find meaning, discover value, and maintain hope. It supports the patient’s belief system, often providing health benefits and comfort during difficult times.

Religious care in the hospital setting is ideally provided through an existing relationship between the patient and their religious entity. In other words, the patient’s pastor, minister, or other clergy may provide meaningful care while their member is hospitalized. The hospital spiritual care team does not seek to replace or substitute for this valuable relationship—we encourage it!

The pastoral care department (spiritual care department) employs a staff chaplain who responds to patient, family, and staff needs during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. Hunt Regional also partners with community clergy members who have been screened and oriented about patient rights and confidentiality. The staff chaplain coordinates and provides oversight of services provided by these community clergy. These valued community clergy members provide care during regular business hours as needed in partnership with the staff chaplain and after-hours spiritual care.

You do not need to be religious to receive spiritual care. While an individual’s religious foundation may provide support during a health crisis or difficult times, even individuals with no religious affiliation have a spiritual dimension. They may sense a spiritual need while hospitalized.

Spiritual or pastoral care in a hospital setting is part of a patient's care plan. It focuses on the spiritual clinical needs of a patient in support and partnership with other healthcare team members.