Built-in 1973 Dignity Health Methodist Hospital of Sacramento is committed to providing daily excellence in health care for residents of Sacramento’s southern suburbs including the Elk Grove Wilton and Galt communities. Methodist Hospital is home to a 158 acute-care bed facility with 1120 employees 283 medical staff and 29 Emergency Department beds. Methodist Hospital also owns and operates Bruceville Terrace – a 171-bed sub-acute skilled nursing long-term care facility adjacent to the hospital that provides care for the elderly as well as those requiring extended recoveries. Methodist Hospital is home to the Family Medicine Residency Program an accredited and nationally recognized program which provides resident physicians with specialty training in primary care family medicine. Together the hospital and residency program implemented a ground-breaking curriculum addressing the identification treatment and assistance of human trafficking victims and created a one-of-a-kind health clinic for victims the Human Trafficking Medical Home.
Responsibilities
The incumbent provides spiritual/religious counseling and ministry to patients and their families, demonstrating competency in spiritual support and pastoral counseling, as well as dealing with grief, the dying process and death. The incumbent recognizes that during illness and suffering, individuals rely on their spiritual resources to cope and find meaning. Through the ministry of presence, religious and spiritual interventions, pastoral counseling, bereavement counseling and crisis intervention the incumbent is empowered to heal, sustain, guide, and reconciles patients and their families. The incumbent also provides a supportive presence to staff, including physicians, and makes referrals when necessary. The incumbent has a working knowledge of systems and organizational dynamics with the ability to align personal and departmental goals with the organizational goals. The incumbent is able to articulate the role of chaplains and spiritual care services they offer to various interest groups in various organizational settings.
Job Duties:
For each age group, demonstrates competency (knowledge, skills) by charting, when appropriate, or sharing at clinical rounds age-specific information necessary to provide appropriate spiritual/emotional care for newborn, infant, toddler, preschool-age, school-age, adolescent, young adult, middle adult, late adult. Successfully completes age-specific competency exam yearly. Exceeds by doing 2 case presentations per year to department members and manager that include age-specific spiritual/emotional care (and theological reflection if possible), using the age-specific observation tool as guideline.Promotes collaboration by: 1) participating at patient care rounds and family conferences. 2) assisting manager in running department and the promotion of spiritual care (e.g. contributing at meetings, articulating departmental process and goals). 3) working as liaison between parish or congregation and patient/family. 4) working cooperatively with chaplaincy volunteers (provide H.C. list, follow up on referrals from volunteers). 5) making appropriate referrals to community clergy, nurses, social services, ethics committee, supportive care pathway. 6) coaching staff informally on ways to provide spiritual care. Exceeds by doing 2 of the following: 1) presenting new employee orientations on Chaplaincy Services. 2) supervising or developing volunteer program or 3) preparing program for chaplains to work more effectively with another department or outside organization or 4) developing program to teach staff to effectively address patients/families spiritual needs or 5) Participating in 2 or more defusings/debriefings at MHS under leadership of ClSM Team Coordinator.Interacts in a supportive, professional manner with department members and with other health care team members, patients, family members and other customers (especially in conflictual situations and crises). 1 ) treats everyone with dignity and respect regardless of cultural differences, race, religion, gender, medical circumstances. geographic location, education, sexual orientation or physical attributes and capabilities and models this respect for other staff members. 2) exercises courtesy promptly and professionally with no more than 2-3 valid complaints per year) utilizes conflict reduction skills by discussion of problems directly with appropriate individual by helping to resolve problems on team and between patients/families with staff and/or doctors. 4) encourages, accepts, provides feedback in a positive and constructive manner. Exceeds by manager receiving 4 or more positive validations of ministry from staff or patient/families that would reflect ability to maintain composure and help others do the same when resolving conflictual situations or assisting other in dealing with emotional, spiritual and/or physical crises.Promotes stewardship by 1) utilizing time and supplies in a productive, cost-effective manner. 2) Participating in hospital's recycling efforts. 3) Working with manager to measure productivity and quality; assurance. 4) Keeping education records, age-specific observation tool updated in personnel files on yearly basis. Exceeds by chaplain proposing 3 or more practical suggestions yearly that would increase productivity and/or cost savings to the department/MHS.Promotes excellence by demonstrating ability to assess and address spiritual needs of patients, family members and staff as referred, within 12 hours of referral. Documents in patient record information pertinent to spiritual assessment and services offered. Is visible to patients, families, staff, M.D.'s on assigned units so that case finding is done and referrals made in timely fashion. Exceeds by assisting in 2 interdisciplinary programs per year that promote spiritual care as essential to healing, or by conducting 2 or more bereavement support groups within IMHS.Makes known availability and way to access Chaplaincy Services to at least 80% of patients and/or family members within 24 hours of admission on assigned nursing units, with the exception of weekends and holidays.As member of department, works with other members of the chaplaincy team to help integrate and implement MHS program of spiritual care with the spiritual care standards of CHW and Joint Commission. (e.g. yearly department goals). Exceeds by actively participating in committees related to Joint Commission/CHW or by suggesting and responding to requested input that would improve spiritual care consistent with standards.Demonstrates patient and family advocacy including patient rights as evidenced by: 1) Maintaining confidentiality of patient information. 2) Actively participating in discussions with patients/families regarding withholding/withdrawing of life support. 3) Respecting freedom of conscience of patient/family regarding refusal of spiritual support. 4) Giving Information to patients/families (when requested) on Patient rights. 5) Acting as resource for the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. 6) Advocating for patient in regard to Code Status. 7) Makes appropriate referrals to Ethics Committee, bioethics specialist, or Risk Management Department. Exceeds by presenting 2 in-services per year to staff (e.g. several nurses or chaplains) on bioethical issues relating to patient rights or withdrawing/withholding life support.Responds to beeper within 5 minutes 90% of the time. Confers with chaplaincy manager, team and/or nursing supervisors when necessary to triage more than one emergency situation.Promotes religious identity of MHS organization through preparation and presentation of public prayer and liturgical or interfaith (e.g. memorial) services on a regular and as needed basis. Assumes responsibility for religious environment (e.g. chapel, bulletin boards). Regularly saying prayer over the PBX system. Exceeds by contribution in 2 of the following: 1. actively preparing and participation in hospital-based memorial service, 2. holding interfaith prayer service for staff or patients (e.g. residents of sub-acute facilities), 3 and other related liturgical/interfaith services.Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Education and Experience:
1 year Chaplaincy experience in a hospital or healthcare setting4 units of Clinical Pastoral Education.Masters degree in Theology or Divinity preferred.Licensure:
APC or NACC certified or Board Eligible