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1 Aim and purpose

Hospital chaplaincy endeavours to provide patients with support and comfort. It aims to help them deal with illness and stress and overcome hopelessness. Hospital chaplains serve people of all faiths. They make no attempt to proselytise. They try to empathise with and understand people from different contexts. Above all, this means listening to the pain and suffering, but also to the joys of life.

2 Scope of application

Applies to the entire KRANKENHAUS

3 Description of the procedure

The chaplains are available to talk to the patients of the HOSPITAL, their relatives and the staff of the HOSPITAL.

3.1 Making contact

3.1.1 General information

The hospital chaplaincy publicises its services through notices on the wards and in the duty rooms as well as through patient brochures and patient information leaflets, which should be available on the wards.

3.1.2 Concrete requirement

The hospital chaplaincy can be called by patients, relatives, nursing staff and doctors. On weekdays, the hospital chaplaincy can be reached via the answering machine. The private numbers of the chaplains are known to the medical and nursing staff for urgent cases at night and at weekends.

3.1.3 Offer to church members

On admission, patients are asked about their religion or denomination. Once consent has been given, the hospital's admissions department provides the hospital chaplaincy with the names of patients who are members of the Protestant and Catholic churches. These patients receive a welcome letter from the hospital chaplaincy. The same procedure can be followed for members of other religious communities.

3.2 Duty of confidentiality

Full-time and voluntary hospital chaplains are bound by confidentiality and confessional secrecy.

3.3 Offers

3.3.1 Conversations

The topics and the duration of the conversation and the attention are determined by the patients and their relatives.

3.3.2 Religious acts

The chaplains offer the following rituals, which are performed at the request of the patients or their relatives: Blessings, prayers, anointing of the sick, communion, baptism, church weddings and blessing of the deceased. For rituals of other denominations and religious communities, contact is made with the respective denomination or religious community, insofar as it is represented in the catchment area of the HOSPITAL.

3.3.3 Worship service, devotion

Devotions in the Room of Silence are offered once a month and on request. With the consent of their doctors, patients can attend Sunday services in a nearby church (name, address).

3.3.4 Events

The hospital chaplains organise events on the wards, such as Advent carols. They liaise with the ward management when doing so.

3.3.5 Mediation with other religions/denominations

At the patient's request, contact will be established with another religious community/denomination.

3.4 Networking

3.4.1 Pastoral care team

The chaplains meet regularly for ecumenical discussions. The areas of responsibility of the chaplains are determined jointly. The chaplains represent each other, taking into account the denominational wishes of the patients.

3.4.2 Cooperation with the wards

In their area of responsibility, the hospital chaplains seek and maintain contact with nursing staff and doctors.

3.4.3 Committee work

The hospital chaplains are involved in the committees of the church and the hospital (e.g. ethics committee and ethics council).

3.4.4 Public relations

In notices on the wards, the hospital chaplains draw attention to the Room of Silence as a place of encounter and meditation as well as to the events.

3.4.5 Volunteers in hospital pastoral care

The hospital chaplaincy trains and deploys volunteers and supports them through supervision. They are also bound to confidentiality.

4 Responsibility, qualification

The Evangelical Lutheran Church (state) and the Roman Catholic Church / (archdiocese) create and fill positions for full-time hospital chaplains within the scope of their possibilities. The hospital chaplains have an employment and service relationship with their churches. Qualifications for full-time hospital chaplains include a degree in theology and further training in pastoral psychology. The hospital chaplains divide the clinics and wards into areas of responsibility; see Appendix 1. The HOSPITAL provides the hospital chaplaincy with rooms (quiet room, offices) and work equipment (e.g. telephone connection).

5 Documentation

none

6 Notes and comments

The hospital chaplains have an employment and service relationship with their churches.

7 Applicable documents

Art. 140 Basic Law in conjunction with Art. Art 141 WV State-church treaty for the respective federal state, in some states customary law

8 Terms

not used

9 Systems

Appendix 1: List of hospital chaplains with areas of responsibility