Allegheny Health Network (AHN) - NEW - Wexford Hospital - Pastoral Care Volunteer

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The Pastoral Care Volunteer provides spiritual care primarily to patients not affiliated with a spiritual provider or church, to employees and to patients and their families who request chaplain service.

The Pastoral Care Volunteer is a part of the Volunteer Resources Program at Wexford Hospital. Training may also come from the Chaplain Volunteer.

Pastoral Care Volunteers provide non-sectarian spiritual care. The general approach is to introduce him or herself and the ministry to the patients, determine patients status (i.e. whether they are receiving pastoral care) and provide counsel if desired.

Provide pastoral care that responds to the patient’s stated needs and pastoral visits must adhere to AHN and Wexford Hospital’s non-solicitation policies. Spiritual care visits are not be used to evangelize or otherwise recruit patients to be members of any specific church or practice.

• Pray with patients/caregivers only if there is some direct or indirect indication of the patient’s desire to pray.
• Provide spiritual counseling only in regard to the patients' own disclosures.
• Occasionally provide religious services as requested by staff.
• Upon learning that a patient is a member of a church or group, may, at the patient’s request, notify the staff so they can contact the patient’s pastor if needed.
• Maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
• Abide by the Policies and Procedures of Wexford Hospital. (A hospital Policies and Procedures Manual is available in the Volunteer Resources office.)

Eucharistic Ministers from Parishes, who are not Wexford Hospital volunteers, may only visit the members of their parish.