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APC e-News
news and information from the Association of Professional Chaplains 
topFebruary, 2014 - Vol. 16 No. 1        
In This Issue
Call for Volunteers for APC Committees
What Questions Do You Have about Research?
Getting Involved
A New Hospital Accreditor: What are the Implications for Chaplains?
BCCs Invited to Serve on Certification Committtees at June Conference
Reimagine Chaplaincy through Conference Educational Opportunities
Exploring Continuing Education Avenues for Chaplains
Reflecting on the Professional Ethics Process
Upcoming Professional Chaplaincy Webinars
Call for Annual Award Nominations: Make a Difference
Call for Conference Poster Presentations
Resource Reviews for Continuing Education and Reference
Glad You Asked: How Do I Check My Maintenance of Certification Status?
BCCI Commission on Certification News
Remembering Nelson Mandela
The Business of Chaplaincy: An Outsider's Opinion
About APC e-News

  

 

This edition of APC e-News

is sponsored by

Healing Healthcare Systems 2013
New Hanover Regional Medical Center

Quick Links

Memorials
APC extends our sympathy to the family and friends of APC members who have died. Memorials may be viewed on the APC website, where you will find them in alphabetical order by last name.

Volunteers Still Needed for APC Committees
If you would like to get more out of your APC membership, please consider volunteering. APC is committed to providing you with opportunities to actively participate in your organization. In exchange for your time and support, you will develop leadership skills that will benefit you professionally and personally. APC is looking for volunteers with enthusiasm, diverse perspectives and a willingness to actively participate.

Please consider volunteering for one of our committees. We need your expertise.

Available committees:
  • Communications
  • Development
  • Education
  • Membership
  • Quality
  • Standards
The deadline to apply for these positions has been extended to February 28, 2014. The volunteer term is for one to three years, depending on the committee. A second term may be available. Most committees meet by conference call four to six times a year and by e-mail.

To apply, please review the committee description and fill out the volunteer application located on the APC website. We will contact you after you apply. The president, in consultation with the CEO and committee chair, recommends who will serve on the committees.

In addition, APC is seeking state leaders for some states. To inquire about openings in your state, please contact your state representative or the APC office.

Certified chaplains may include up to 10 hours of service to APC on their Annual Summary of Continuing Education hours form.

We hope that you will join us by volunteering to make a contribution to APC's success!

 

What Questions Do You Have about Research?

by Kevin J. Flannelly PhD 

 

Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy The first issue of the Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy in 2014 launches a special section about "Research Methodology." I expect this section to be a regular feature of every issue of the JHCC for years to come.

 

It is hoped that the articles in this section will serve as a research primer that will aid chaplains to understand research method and findings, to discuss research with colleagues in chaplaincy and other fields, to formulate research questions of their own, and to develop research proposals. To achieve these ends, I would like to know the kinds of topics that APC members think would be helpful to them. So, please write to me with any suggestions you have. Your suggestions could be in the form a statement or a question. For example: "I would like an article about correlation." "What is a correlation?" "I want to learn about statistics." What is a t-test?" "My boss says I need to measure outcomes--How can I measure outcomes?"

 

Are you interested in doing research but don't want to take time away from your chaplaincy care practice? Noted researcher Daniel H. Grossoehme DMin BCC argues that chaplaincy research and chaplaincy care are not an "either or" proposition. In "Research as a Chaplaincy Intervention" (JHCC 17:97-99, 2011), he says, "Whether we ask questions in the context of a research study, or in direct clinical chaplaincy, we create a space where someone can consider an alternative, and perhaps discern God's movement in their lives in a new way."  

 

Kevin Flannelly PhD is a senior researcher at the Center for Psychosocial Research in Massapequa, NY. He is the editor of the Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, official journal of APC, published by Taylor and Francis and may be contacted at [email protected]

 

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Getting Involved
by Darryl I. Owens BCC   
   
It's that nomination time of the year! It's a time to reflect on your involvement and ways you can give of your talents and insights to this great chaplaincy organization.
 
This year, we will have two openings on the board of directors: one for president-elect and one for secretary, with terms beginning November 1, 2014. Nominations, including self-nominations, for these positions are sought from the general membership. Each position is weighty and leads to the presidency. Remember, with our new governance structure, each officer serves a one-year term and then moves up. Therefore, the secretary will move to treasurer, then to president-elect and then to president. The incoming president-elect will move to president, serving one year in each office.
 
Descriptions for these board positions are on the website for you to view. Yes, it will require a commitment to more time and energy, but it is truly rewarding.
 
Also on the website, you can find detailed information about the nomination process as well as a nomination form to complete and return to APC.
 
The deadline for nominations is February 20, 2014.
 
Rev. Darryl I. Owens MDiv CT BCC, president-elect of APC is a chaplain at the University of North Carolina Hospitals in Chapel Hill, NC, where he serves as the Women's Services chaplain and grief counselor. He serves as chair of the Nominating Committee and may be contacted at [email protected].

 

A New Hospital Accreditor: What are the Implications for Chaplains?

by Terry Ruth Culbertson BCC

 

"Simply better accreditation." This tagline represents the philosophy and intent of an agency granted "deeming authority" for accrediting hospitals on September 26, 2008 by the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). DNV, or Det Norske Veritas, is a global, independent, tax-paying foundation established in 1864 in Oslo, Norway that has been operating since 1898 in the U.S. It has 9,000 employees working in 300 worldwide offices in 100 countries. The other current accrediting agencies for hospitals include the American Osteopathic Association/Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (AOA/HFAP), the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ) and, of course, the Joint Commission.

 

DNV has already enrolled over 300 hospitals. This brief article is to inform APC members of this development and share the work of a designated task force under the APC Commission on Quality in Chaplaincy Care. Task force members include Bob Kidd, Lerrill White, David Plummer and Terry Culbertson. Each of us has worked, or is working in, a facility accredited by DNV.

 

There are a number of significant differences between a DNV accreditation and that of other agencies. First, a site survey team visits yearly rather than every three years like the Joint Commission. Task force members made several positive comments about DNV's focus on continual improvement and the power of constant readiness vs. "hurry up and get ready." Part of the DNV accreditation process is a quality management system (QMS) called "ISO 9001" that focuses on consistency, customer satisfaction and systematic quality improvement. Compliance with the ISO 9001 standard must occur within three years after the initial deemed National Integrated Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations (NIAHO) accreditation. DNV appears more interested in processes rather than just content. Patient safety issues and outcomes are a primary focus. DNV seeks to empower a hospital to do its own problem solving. These are some of the positive experiences of chaplains going through DNV accreditation. (Read entire article.)

Rev. Terry Ruth Culbertson MDiv BCC CT ACPE is the Department of Spiritual Care manager at Upstate Medical, Syracuse, NY. She serves as chair of the DNV Accreditation Task Force and may be contacted at [email protected].

 

BCCs Invited to Serve on Certification Committees at June Conference

 

APC is offering an excellent opportunity for all of our board certified chaplains. While attending APC's annual conference in Anaheim, CA, you are invited to serve on BCCI certification committees, which will be held on June 17 and 18 at the conference.  

 

Professional chaplains that served on committees last year had positive experiences:

 

"It was interesting for me to see how professional chaplaincy develops and is developing ...it was great to work with a group of peers...and indeed to encounter people on their journey to professional chaplaincy..." - Chaplain Dennis DuPont BCC

"When asked to consider serving on a committee last year, I was a little anxious, having been retired for four years and only serving on one in the past. But it was a great experience. I was affirmed by my colleagues who welcomed my background and experience as a valuable contributor, and found the applicants eager to meet us. There was a lot of work in preparation for each of the roles with different committees, but the challenge enriched me. I would serve again without hesitation." - Chaplain John Fitts BCC

"I enjoyed getting to know the candidates by reading their application packets and interacting with them during the committee. It was an opportunity to serve and journey along side of others as they strive toward excellence in ministry." - Chaplain Pearlean Scott BCC 


Certified chaplains may include up to 10 hours of service to APC/BCCI on their annual continuing education report. Serving on certification committees (preparation as well as meeting time) qualifies for this requirement.

 

Here are details:

Committee members attend an orientation meeting on Monday June 16 at 7:00 p.m.

Each committee member serves in four interviews - two on Tuesday June 17 and two on Wednesday June 18.

Each committee member serves as a committee chair for one interview, as a committee presenter for another interview, and then as a committee member for the other two.

 

BCCI reimburses meals from Monday night through lunch on Thursday. Committee members either share a hotel room or are reimbursed for half the rate for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Because it is assumed that committee members are attending the conference, transportation costs are not reimbursed, unless it is a local member traveling back and forth each day.

Committee members are responsible for making their own hotel reservations. Since it is the annual conference, members pay for their lodging and then are reimbursed by BCCI.  If there is an extenuating circumstance, please contact Carol Pape, at [email protected].

 

Please let us know if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity to support the development of future chaplains by e-mailing Angie Gammonley, certification coordinator, at [email protected]. Thank you for your consideration and compassion. We hope to see you all in Anaheim.

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Reimagine Chaplaincy through Conference Educational Opportunities

by Geila Rajaee BCC  

 

The Association of Professional Chaplains and the Conference Education Committee are excited to present a stimulating mix of educational workshops during, prior to and after our annual conference in Anaheim, CA June 18-22, 2014. This year's theme, "Re:Imagine - the Art and Business of Chaplaincy," has inspired helpful workshops and professional development intensives (PDIs) that will provide researched informed, clinically relevant practices and resources.

 

90-minute workshops. 2014 conferenceFrom a collection of exceptional proposals, the 2014 Conference Education Committee selected 47 workshops, which will be offered over four different time slots during the conference. These sessions will cover topics such as chaplaincy care research, quality improvement, clinical expertise and program development within the field of professional chaplaincy. The cost of these workshops is included with conference registration.

 

Professional development intensives. The committee also selected 22 pre- and post-conference PDIs. These four- and eight-hour sessions provide a forum for in-depth study of the topics being presented, including training in research, outcomes-oriented chaplaincy and clinical skill building. The PDIs will be offered at $75 for a four-hour session and $125 for an eight-hour one. These sessions will begin on the Wednesday prior to conference, Thursday morning and Sunday afternoon following the end of the conference.

 

Complete details on the 90-minute workshops and professional development intensives, and online conference registration are available on the APC website. We look forward to learning together in Anaheim!

 

Geila Rajaee MDiv BCC serves on the Education Committee and the 2014 Conference Planning Committee as the Conference Education Committee chair. She is a chaplain at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in Washington and may be contacted at [email protected].  

 

 

Exploring Continuing Education Avenues for Chaplains
by Brian Hughes BCC

I am writing to talk some about Continuing Education. I know that, for many, trying to find 50 hours of continuing education each year can be a bit of a struggle. Recognizing this, the Education Committee has sought to provide various educational opportunities, in addition to our outstanding annual conferences, for our members.
 
We offer a monthly webinar series, with changing topics and presenters. Many have participated in these, and we are always looking for proposals from new presenters on timely topics for our monthly webinar series. (If you have encountered someone from whom more chaplains could benefit from learning, please send suggested presenters and/or topics to Rita Kaufman in the APC national office, [email protected].)
 
We are also continuing to offer the ongoing Webinar Journal Club, hosted by renowned researchers George Fitchett and Patricia Murphy. If you have not taken a look at these, I would highly recommend it. The goal of this series is to help BCCs become more research-literate, and comfortable finding, reading and even assessing research that relates to chaplaincy as a profession.
 
We are also hosting, for the first time, a one-day educational event, the 2014 Chaplain Symposium, "Aligning Chaplaincy with Emerging Health Care Realities," on March 6, 2014 in Rochester, MN. Interested chaplains and their colleagues may participate in-person in Rochester or remotely via Internet.
 
In addition to these opportunities, many of the past annual conference recordings, as well as webinar recordings, are available. In addtion, we have sought to compile many local and national Continuing Education Opportunities.

APC members also receive free electronic subscriptions to the Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy and the Journal of Religion, Spirituality and Aging. For other chaplaincy books and resources, look to the APC e-News Resource Reviews column, as well as the APC website Resources section and Reading Room. Hours spent on reading/self-study can help you fulfill your annual continuing education requirement.
 
A quick search on Google Scholar for terms such as chaplain, chaplaincy, spiritual care, pastoral care and health care (or prisons, workplace or military), can yield numerous current resources. All of these may "count" as continuing education, as well as provide timely and pertinent information for your current chaplaincy work. Many books on business, leadership, customer service, patient satisfaction and other such "quality improvement" readings are also helpful. I have even found some exemplary TED talks and MOOCs (Multiple Open Online Courses). Google MOOCs and maybe spirituality, psychology, public health, or other related topics to find upcoming virtual courses that are free and not only applicable to your role as a BCCI certified chaplain but also incredibly insightful and constructive.
 
I hope these ideas have sparked your creativity in exploring continuing education avenues. As always, feel free to contact me or the national office with any questions or clarifications regarding continuing education.

Brian Hughes BCC of Garland, TX is chair of the Education Committee and the Symposium Task Force. He may be contacted at [email protected].

Reflecting on the Professional Ethics Process
by Martha H. Rucker BCC

Several years ago, I participated in a Ministry Leadership program offered by the health system where I worked at that time. At each meeting, we had a program outlining the events of our time together, and on the front of one program is the picture shared here.

The
ethics
"The Good Samaritan,"
by Sr. Helen David Brancato IHM
picture is titled "The Good Samaritan," by Sr. Helen David Brancato IHM.  We were encouraged to ponder and then share what drew us most to the picture. Looking back at my journal, I share with you what I wrote, "What draws me most is the fact the man is covered with a newspaper and the words printed at the bottom, 'The verdict is mixed. We know more. But other nations do even better.' These words, this paper with the daily happenings of the world, cover the man as he seeks comfort in the world and from the world. I see, too, the person in the upper right hand corner - looking on from a distance and then the person who has turned away but is also a part of the woman, representing that we all have the desire to turn away at times yet also have the courage to care and help.  Each person is an important part of the picture. Notice how each is connected one to the other."  At the end of the Leadership program, we were given this print as a gift, a reminder of what we are to do and who we are to be in this world.   

As stated on the Professional Ethics page of the APC website, "The APC Code of Ethics and processes take a restorative rather than retributive view of justice making. When investigating allegations of unethical behavior, the stories of everyone involved are heard and concerns of each person are honored. If an allegation leads to formal discipline, the focus is not retributive punishment but restorative discipline. The goal is to renew the ability to live and work ethically."

The members of the Ethics Committee fulfill the commitment to hear each person, to honor and value each person in the process, and to provide restorative justice. Just as each person in the Good Samaritan print is an important and vital part of the scene, each person in the ethics process has a story to share. Our commitment and dedication is to the members of the Association of Professional Chaplains. Therefore, if you have any questions regarding the ethics process, please contact the APC CEO or me.

Rev. Martha H. Rucker BCC is a staff chaplain for Christian Care Communities, Hopkinsville, KY. She serves on the APC Board of Directors and is chair of the Ethics Committee. She may be contacted at [email protected].

 

Upcoming APC Professional Chaplaincy Webinars 

 

February 27, 2014, Outpatient Chaplaincy: Organizing a Program, Identifying Needs, Providing Resources, a Case Study, presented by Rev. Jim Lucas BCC and Sr. Sue Tracy OP. Register by February 19.  

 

March 12, 2014, Using POLST to Ensure Patient Preferences are Honored, presented by Terri Schmidt MD MS. Register by March 4, 2014.


April 1, 2014, The Spiritual Injury Scale (SIS), WJCIII S4, presented by George Fitchett DMin PhD BCC and Sr. Patricia Murphy PhD BCC. Register by March 21.

 

April 10, 2014, Jewish Spiritual Care, presented by Rabbi Naomi Kalish MA ACPE BCC. Register by April 2, 2014. 

July 15, 2014, Recognizing Resilience in Patients, presented by Steven Spidell DMin BCC. Register by July 7, 2014.  

 

See the Calendar of Events for details and to register.

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Call for Annual Award Nominations
Make a Difference
by Floyd O'Bryan BCC

Each year APC recognizes individuals through our Annual Awards, the association's highest honor. Four of these awards will be presented at the 2014 Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA, while one award will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA).  

The four annual leadership awards presented at our national conference are:
  1. Anton Boisen Professional Service Award.  This award is given to a board certified chaplain of the APC who demonstrates a commitment to excellence in professional chaplaincy and who has offered a unique contribution to contemporary chaplaincy care.  
  2. Distinguished Service Award.  This award celebrates the contributions of any individual or organization that promotes the standard of professional chaplaincy in an exemplary manner.  This award does not require membership in APC.
  3. Outstanding Local Leadership Award.  This award is given to an APC member who has exhibited outstanding dedication to APC through active involvement at the local level, including sub-state, state or multi-state level.
  4. Retired Chaplain Award. This award honors a retired APC member who has made significant contributions to the profession of chaplaincy or to the APC during retirement years.
The Oskar Pfister Award honors a distinguished colleague, the Rev. Pfister, who promoted dialog between psychiatry and religion. It is given by the Committee on Religion and Psychiatry of the American Psychiatric Association at an annual meeting. APC forwards nominations to the APA committee on Religion and Psychiatry no later than 18 months prior to the awarding date.
 
Who do you know who has made significant contributions to the Association of Professional Chaplains' mission and/or  to contemporary chaplaincy care?  Have you considered submitting a nomination for them for the appropriate award?

NOW is the time for the first step in the nominating process. Visit the Annual Leadership Awards page to learn more about each award, its criteria and how to nominate a worthy person.     

Nominations for the first four awards must be submitted to the APC national office by February 18, 2014.

Once you have completed the above steps, I invite you to sit back, smile and experience the deep satisfaction that you initiated the process of recognizing and celebrating people making a difference.

Thanks for making a difference in the life of a worthy colleague.

Rev. Floyd O'Bryan BCC serves on the APC Board of Directors. He is board liaison to the Membership and Development Committees and a member of the Symposium Task Force. He is the director of the Department of Chaplains Services at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN and may be contacted at [email protected].

 

 Call for Conference Poster Presentations
The 2014 APC Annual Conference Workshops Committee invites professional chaplains, students and others to submit poster presentation proposals by February 28, 2014.   
 
Presenting a poster at a professional conference is an exciting opportunity to share your work and ideas with colleagues. The benefits of presenting a poster are numerous: You can interact and collaborate with others, hone your presentation skills, and network with other chaplaincy care professionals that are interested in similar research topics.
 
Posters can include a broad range of subjects: research studies, reports on creative initiatives, research in-progress or innovative clinical practices (marketing/advertising not allowed). Specific guidelines, such as poster size and format, can be found on the Annual Conference Call for Posters web page.
 
The accepted posters will be displayed starting on Friday, June 20 through Sunday, June 22. There will be a special session from 5:30 - 6:45 pm on Saturday, June 21 that will allow you to present your poster and interact with conference participants.  
 
We look forward to reviewing your proposal for a poster presentation and encourage all members and friends of APC to consider this opportunity for the 2014 Annual Conference.
 
Geila Rajaee MDiv BCC serves on the Education Committee and the 2014 Conference Planning Committee as the Education Committee chair. She is a chaplain at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in Washington and may be contacted at [email protected].

resourcereviews Resource Reviews for Continuing Education and Reference

Books, films, recorded webinars, journal articles and other media provide continuing education opportunities and reference material. To help you use your time most efficiently, our review section will evaluate media for professional or personal usefulness.

If you would like to join our resource review panel, please contact our Resource Reviews editor, Mardie Chapman BCC. Reviewers may select from a list of potential resources, receive a free copy of the publication or media to review, prepare the review according to guidelines, and submit reviews for editing and inclusion in APC e-News. Serving as a reviewer provides you with continuing education hours and the satisfaction of serving APC. Feedback, questions and suggestions are welcome.

Mardie J. Chapman MDiv MS BCC serves as the APC e-News Resource Reviews Editor.
She is a chaplain at St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Petersburg, FL and may be contacted at [email protected].


Handbook of Thanatology: The Essential Body of Knowledge for the Study of Death, Dying and Bereavement, 2nd edition

David K. Meagher and David E. Balk, editors 

(New York: Routledge, 2013, softcover, 560 pages)

 

"Thirty-five years ago those working in the new field of death, dying and hospice believed that the need for specialists who cared for the dying would be obsolete in 20 years. Good care for the dying would become part of the larger health care system, and organizations such as hospice would no longer be needed....  [I]t is now clear that the need for those who specialize in care of the dying will continue for the foreseeable future [33]."

 

For chaplains and professionals, this interdisciplinary overview is foundational for those seeking certification in the field of thanatology through the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC.) For those who work in hospice, palliative care, the emergency department, or any area of the discipline that deals with death, dying and bereavement, this is a significant work. Whether you are seeking certification or not, this book will bring you up to date on contemporary research, theory and practice. It will help you continue to provide good care.

 

The book is organized around a 6x10 grid called the "Body of Knowledge (BOK) Matrix." There are six main categories and 10 "indicators" or subtopics. Categories include: dying; end-of-life decision making; loss, grief and mourning; assessment and intervention; traumatic death; and death education. Each category is discussed in terms of the indicators which include: cultural/socialization, religious/spiritual, professional issues, historical perspectives, contemporary perspectives, life span, institutional/social, family and individual, resources and research, and ethical/legal. The second edition addresses the impact of the internet on the field and includes an international perspective with chapters describing programs in Israel and Ireland.

 

Consider this book a "state of the question" discussion of the field of thanatology. Well written and surprisingly readable, it also provides an extensive bibliography and index of key terms. After reading it, you will know the issues, significant writings and major contributors - past and present - in the field. You will also know where to go for more information. 

 

Reviewed by Vicki G. Lumpkin MA MDiv PhD BCC, Chaplain and Bereavement Coordinator, Hospice of Rockingham County, Reidsville, NC.

 

Glad You Asked
How Do I Check My Maintenance of Certification Status?

To check your Maintenance of BCCI Certification status, first log into the APC website. If you don't remember your login, click the "forgot password" link or contact the APC office. Upon login, you will on the My Profile page.

From the menu on the right, scroll down to the "Account Details" section and select the "My BCCI Certification" menu option. You will see something like this:

1. Most Recent Continuing Education Report2012
2. Quinquennial Maintenance of Certification Years2014 and 2019
3. Quinquennial Maintenance of Certification Complete Date2009
4. Quinquennial Maintenance of Certification Peer Review2009

Item 1 indicates the year of your most recent continuing education report received by APC. Your continuing education report is due January 31. Due to the volume of report submissions at this time of year, please allow several weeks for your report to be reviewed and your record to be updated. As an added precaution, please do not submit your only copy of your CE report. Save a copy for yourself for future reference.

Item 2 indicates the years in which you are due to complete a peer review, which includes providing evidence of continued connection with your faith group. If you have recently changed faith groups, then you must ask your religious endorsing body to send a letter of support/endorsement directly to the APC office. Those who are due to complete Quinquennial Maintenance of Certification in 2014 have been sent a reminder and instructions.

Item 3 indicates the year in which you last completed your Quinquennial Maintenance of Certification - both Peer Review and evidence of support from your faith group.

Item 4 is the year in which you last completed your peer review.

If you have any questions, please contact the APC national office.

 

BCCI Commission on Certification News
by Joe Perez BCC

The Commission on Certification expresses great thanks to three APC colleagues who completed their tenures of service on October 31, 2013. Robert (Bob) Grigsby BCC served as chair of the commission for six years. His leadership has been invaluable toward maturation of our certification process. Jana Troutman-Miller BCC was with the commission for two consecutive two-year terms (four years). Jana's claim to fame is taking the lead to update and pare down the certification forms and procedures manual from over 100 pages to about 50 pages. Adrienne Schlosser-Hall BCC, during her four years of service over two terms, acted as the Faith Group Leader.  She and her team assisted certification candidates with matters concerning ecclesiastical endorsement.

These three colleagues will be missed, and we pray blessings on their future endeavors. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve beside them, and I hope to lead in a manner worthy of their example. Please join me in thanking Bob, Jana, and Adrienne for a job well done!

In the next issue of APC e-News, I will share an update regarding the progress of the new Hospice and Palliative Care Specialty Certification process.  The commission has begun the interview process with the first specialty candidates. I will share some common difficulties already experienced by them, as well as a few practical tips for prospective candidates.  

Until next time, many blessings as we live and work to make the world a better place right where we are.

Joseph (Joe) Perez MDiv BCC is the vice president of pastoral services at Valley Baptist Health System in Harlingen, TX. He serves as chair of the BCCI Commission on Certification. He previously served as coordinator of education and development for the commission and may be contacted at [email protected].

 

Remembering Nelson Mandela
by Ruth Belonsky BCC

"What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It's what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead." - Nelson Mandela

While my life experiences were not at all like those of Nelson Mandela, his death and the constant flow of information and tributes to him in the media have prompted  feelings of sadness and loss, as I mourn the end of a life that affected and inspired the hearts and souls of so many in the world, including my own.

Some of my family survived Hitler's Germany and managed to escape to South Africa, where I was born. I became an activist and spoke out publicly against the Apartheid government because my Jewish heritage taught me about social and economic injustice, as well as compassion and caring for others in need. And now it feels like the end of an era for myself and for my family. I fled South Africa with my family in May 1979 because we were harassed, under constant surveillance and experienced many death threats.

There were many who fought against the Apartheid government, and many who died for change, respect and dignity in South Africa. But Madiba, as he was affectionately known by his clan name, rose above the many, to set an example of love, compassion and greatness.

It was his strength of character, repeatedly tested through his long and very full life, that made him one of the outstanding political figures of our time. Sentenced in the 1960s on charges of sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the government, Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years and released in 1990.

South Africans revere him for the sacrifice of spending nearly three decades in prison and for his triumph in negotiating a peaceful end to Apartheid. After his release, he visited world capitals, including Washington, and I was present when he visited Los Angeles.

Thus began the most remarkable period of Nelson Mandela's life. President of South Africa from 1994-1999, he did not forget the torturers and murderers from the time of the Apartheid regime. Some of the worst crimes were brought to light through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. However, he sought reconciliation instead of revenge.

So we should remember not only the man who embraced his former enemies but also the person who refused to be bowed by them, who remained militant despite 27 years of imprisonment, who walked out of jail and into freedom with his head held high and his eyes looking toward the future.

On Death, he said in 1994 in a documentary on his life: "Death is something inevitable when a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace. I believe I have made that effort and that is, therefore, why I will sleep for the eternity."
 
After so many years of shame, President Nelson Mandela made me feel proud to be a South African. Sleep well, Madiba.
 
Ruth Belonsky MJS BCC is a chaplain at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance, CA. She may be contacted at [email protected].

 

The Business of Chaplaincy: An Outsider's Opinion
by James J. Backing

Among other careers I am the director of Clinical Integration for a multifaceted consulting firm that operates in diverse industries. One of those industries (not meaning to dehumanize compassion as product-centered rather than person-centered) is health care. I am, so to speak, on the dollar side of the revenue stream that is quality-of-life indicators (QoL), clinical pathways and patient scores. That is why I am a member of the APC - not because I am a board certified chaplain, although I am an ordained Congregational minister and have five units of CPE - but because chaplains have yet to realize the power intrinsic to their position. I would like to share how a business consultant views the chaplain paradigm, and it is my hope that those reading will grasp a fuller picture from the outside looking in.

First, some clarity is required. Health care has three persons participating in its process: a patient, a provider and a payer. When there is no payer and the provider is the patient, we call that "preventative medicine." When there is a patient and no provider or payer, we call that "marginalized medicine." When the provider is the one paying for the patient, we call that "benevolent care" or "community-returned care." When there are payers and providers and no patients, we call that "saturated care." When all three parties are involved we call that "health care."

As an executive, I look at the preceding arrangement and ask myself, "How would chaplains make themselves indispensable to the present model of medical management?" Chaplains can no longer be patient-centered in the sense that their professional teleology is to attend to patients while in the hospital. Enormous health care companies are all funneling serious funding into the best ways to minimize stays and reduce readmission. We make the most money by treating fewer patients and urging them to stay away more. It's somewhat absurd but true. In the new health care context, patients are almost the last thing we want to see walking in. Health care companies don't want to own huge hospitals, they want to make huge profits. In today's world, those are two widely divergent goals. These companies want high-margin community-based care with minimal capital investment and low personnel cost. Therefore, the more chaplains anchor themselves on the nursing unit, the less likely they are to survive the ultimate intentions of the health care shift.

Chaplains also cannot attempt to wedge themselves into the role of ethics officer. Modern health care ethics is centered on the minimization of litigation while ensuring risk management. We would love to imagine professional chaplains as compassionate wisdom-givers guiding a hospital gracefully through hard decisions, bridging the sacredness of healing with the difficult realities of medical intervention. The somewhat disappointing truth is that hospital clients desire great lawyers, not good listeners. You know and I know that a good listener is sometimes all that prevents litigation when you defuse an irate patient ready to sue. Unfortunately, administrators are human too, and we pay attention not to the quiet success of unheralded heroes but the brash salvation of more expensive employees.

Bear in mind that government reimbursement for health care places providers in a very tight space: By definition, a readmitted patient is a more acute one and requires more invasive care, which in turn correlates to higher personnel involvement and exponentially increased chances of medical error. This type of patient is also the type of patient a provider is penalized for treating. Thus acutely ill, highly litigious patients carrying profound risk and enormous cost are left unreimbursed by the medical hierarchy. Therefore, a risk-averse clinical team and administrative board want very little to do with employees (such as a chaplains) who might make a patient on the border of readmission decide that they need the emotional reconnection that the hospital provided. This is doubly true of psychiatric patients, who comprise this population in great numbers.  

I also see chaplains trying to capture credibility through empirical data and clinical modalities established on statistically significant indicators of care. This is admirable and I applaud the efforts of education in the professional arena. Chaplains need to undertake with great seriousness the scientific endeavor behind their art. Yes, it is uncomfortable to leave behind the contented greyness of theospiritual language and the nebulous paradigm that is psycho-emotive pastoral care. The reality is that I would never counsel a client to pay an employee simply because they sounded good on paper or made the nurses feel a little better after the tragic loss of a beloved patient. Why not have a nurse take some CPE, give her a two-thousand-dollar-a-year bonus and call her a "unit-wide listen leader" or, more coldly, maybe the "unit-designated employee assistance personnel?"

The problem with research alone is this: Unless you can definitely prove beyond basic postulation that board certified chaplains - not just theospiritually aware providers or an empathetic person - impact quality indicators and measurable outcomes in empirically defined and repeatable ways, you'll never have the same credibility other disciplines literally cash in on. I'm not against the scientific approach because I believe there is great promise there. I'm merely stating, as a business executive, that it would take a masterful demonstration of data for me to invest in a spiritual-care infrastructure.

Chaplains are too busy being confused about their own credentialing process and professional territories to present a unified front to decision-makers. If I work with the CFO of a 15,000-person organization, we would never talk about what school our nurses went to or if our counselors are credentialed; it's a given that the established authorities will ensure homogenous compliance to set standards. Chaplains need to be able to say, "We know exactly who we are, exactly what we do and have the data that demonstrates why we do it." I hope the research takes us there. At the present, however, as an ordained minister myself, I would dread to have to defend a pastoral care department to skeptical administrators. Many departments are kept alive because their leaders impress a decision-maker or executives don't want to send the signal that they are opposed to religious expression among employees, a dangerous legal zone. I hear from a lot of chaplains that their organization is "really behind pastoral care" or "really values people." Feelings alone hold up a healthy percentage of pastoral departments, and the problem with feelings is that they change. There are a lot of administrators who have already said no to chaplaincy, and without legal challenges, financial proof or patient data to aggressively assert a different view, those changes will be permanent. Chaplains play nice. And that is a problem.

So where is chaplaincy? It would be somewhat absurd and unquestionably arrogant to suggest that I have my pulse on the heartbeat of American health care. It is doubtful that anyone knows precisely that future. Yet I am willing - with great vulnerability, as this piece has already demonstrated - to offer a concluding thought: Employing perhaps a distasteful example among pastoral care providers who are often found as peacemakers, we ought to weigh carefully the historical success of great generals throughout history. Most of these generals - from Scipio to Napoleon to Patton - all attacked the lines of least expectation and least resistance. My clients do not spend money unless absolutely necessary to further their interests and aims - specifically, to make more money. In that context, the least expected position for chaplains to take is that they can leverage the emotional intimacy and spiritual connection they have with clients to ensure an improved sense of well-being, a reduction in litigation and a reliance on community resources rather than hospital visits. It will be up to chaplains to decide the ethics of utilizing their proximity to suffering persons in such a way as to manipulate measurable outcomes. I'm not suggesting chaplains sell their souls to secure their careers. I am suggesting, from the other side of the fence, that in the next five years chaplains have to act like their livelihoods depend on presenting a polished, aggressive and unified movement toward not just acceptance but affirmation of their role. Many chaplains come to the world of CPE and pastoral care from painful personal stories or unpleasant experiences in parish life, making them prone to act with the unassuming efforts of a quiet listener. Save it for the bedside, not the boardroom.

I hope chaplains will stop trying to fix their internal problems and start trying to address their external image. I'm pulling for you on my side of the solution.

James J. Backing MDiv is the director of clinical integration at Thyssen-Meinhoff Group, Troy, MI. An affiliate member of APC, he may be contacted at [email protected].

Responses to this article are welcome. Please send yours to Rita Kaufman, editor, [email protected] with the subject line "APC e-News Letter to the Editor." Submitted letters will be reviewed for potential inclusion in the next issue of APC e-News.

 

About APC e-News
 
APC e-News is the publication of the association that keeps members abreast of news, resources, events and topics of interest to professional chaplains. It also includes essays, reflections, feature articles, poetry, and reviews of books, media and other resources on chaplaincy-related topics. APC e-News is published eight times a year in February, March, May, June, July, September, November and December.

Queries regarding prospective writings are welcome. To be considered for publication, work must be congruent with the mission, vision and values of the association; however, ideas and opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily represent the position of APC. Submissions are peer-reviewed by members of the Editorial Board.

Please send submissions electronically to Rita Kaufman, editor, [email protected].
  
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