YourHealthcareTeam:ChaplainHello, my name is Dave.Welcome to my studio.This is a hospital chaplain. Well, it's a toy but we’re pretending.He is on his way to work at the hospital. He is thinking about the work he has to do today and that work is tohelp you.Let’s pretend this is you.You might not know it but when you’re at the hospital you have an entire health care team.The Chaplain is a member of that team.Most people think a Chaplain is here just for religious reasons. That’s not true.Chaplains are here for you. It’s all about respect. No matter what your religious beliefs or lack thereof, theChaplain is here to bring comfort, friendship and expertise.A chaplain is a certified member of a healthcare team. Which means they have expertise and knowledge onhow the medical system works.This means they can listen to your needs and beliefs and help you make the hard choices that come withmanaging your health.They’re your advocate. Just remember that you don’t have to do this alone. You have a chaplain as well as anentire health care team.(Not enough honey.)
Patients are often presented with a variety of treatments, medications and procedures that can be complicated and sometimes difficult to understand, both in terms of the expected result, but also in terms of possible side effects. One of the best ways to overcome this challenge is for patients to ask a lot of questions of their healthcare providers, so they can make the most-informed decisions for their own care. Patients can also play an important role in preventing infections while they are in the hospital.