Role of Chaplains still relevant – Rev. Quarcoo

Patients have the fundamental right to considerate care, which safeguards their personal dignity and respects their cultural, psychosocial, and spiritual needs.

These needs often influence a patient’s perception of care and illness.

Understanding and respecting these values guide the health care provider in meeting the patient’s needs and preferences.

The provision of holistic care includes not only a person’s physical health but also their social, emotional and spiritual health or well being.

It is for this reason that Chaplains were attached to hospitals to fulfill the spiritual needs of patients whiles the medical staff also meet their clinical needs.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency on the need for Chaplains to be attached to hospitals and clinics to meet the spiritual needs of patients, Rev.Canon Quarshie Quarcoo, Parish Priest of Saint Monica’s Anglican Church said Chaplains are there to provide help and support to a diversity of people.

Such support may focus on the emotional or spiritual adjustment to illness or on an individual’s search for meaning and purpose during a difficult time, he said.

According to him Chaplains are regularly involved in offering support during crisis situations as well as on-going care and encouragement during recovery.

Rev. Quarcoo, who doubles as the Anglican chaplain to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, said patients still find something distinct and important about sharing their deepest thoughts with an authorised minister of religion – whatever their church background, adding that, it was the sense of hope they carry.

He gave an example of an elderly; very disturbed terminally ill woman who was so troubled that medical staff was unable to calm her. A Chaplain was called for his input and he realised she needed the reassurance of being able to confess her ‘sins’ and receive God’s forgiveness and love before she was able to die at peace with herself.

“In this instance the Chaplain became the ‘expert’ he said, and added that, ministering to patients was the Chaplain’s prime responsibility but care and support from relatives and friends was another important part of the role.

Caring for and visiting a loved ones in hospitals, especially during times of suffering and uncertainty, was costly and in providing space for the needs of carers to be heard and addressed, Chaplains try to make a difference.

He said in certain jurisdiction such as Nigeria, Chaplains and Imams are attached to hospitals to ensure that religious and cultural beliefs of all their patients were respected

The hospital staffs are another major area of pastoral responsibility for the Chaplain, he said and noted that their roles was still relevant and continue to address the spiritual and emotional needs of the 21st century.

A hospital Chaplain provides pastoral care to patients, their family members and hospital employees. They offer spiritual support and crisis intervention 24 hours a day.

Hospital chaplains may work in hospitals or in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. They typically are ordained ministers with special training involving spiritual needs in clinical and hospital environments.

Often, hospital staff needs this sense of authority and hope, they need someone with time and skills to listen confidentially or help them make sense of life.