Job Description

The Priest Chaplain is responsible for the sacramental needs of all Catholic patients and is committed to respect the dignity and faith tradition of each individual. He offers spiritual support to patients, their families and hospital staff. The Priest Chaplain also facilitates communication between patients and their faith communities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Ensure the delivery of a complete program of spiritual care to patients, their loved ones, and staff in a manner that is true to the values of the Catholic Church.

• As ordained Priest, the Priest Chaplain is directly responsible to the local ordinary or his representative. He receives his faculties and assignment from the local ordinary.
• His primary purpose is to meet the sacramental and religious needs of Catholic patients.
• As part of the pastoral care team the Priest Chaplain provides a comforting presence to patients and families in times of distress.
• As ordained priest he makes himself available for sacramental care and spiritual counseling to hospital staff.
• As chaplain he participates in interdisciplinary Health Care Teams, providing medical staff with insights on patients spiritual well-being and religious needs.
• He responds to patient referrals by health care team members.
• He will a ssess and respond compassionately to individual patient/family spiritual needs on regularly scheduled daily visitations, i.e., new admissions, inpatient units, emergency room, intensive care units, and, as requested.
• As chaplain he is to respond to emergency after hour calls in a timely and professional manner.
• He directly supports the Palliative Care team according to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Service s, fifth edition, by providing moral and ethical guidance in critical decisions and on end-of-life medical care.

• He is responsible for stablishing positive working relationships with all members of the health care team, as well as with hospital volunteer Eucharistic Ministers and volunteer spiritual companions.
• As chaplain he is responsible for attending and participating in Pastoral Care department meetings.
• Keep records and share information as set forth by HIPAA.
• Serve on committees of the hospital as requested and approved by Director of Chaplaincy.
• Ensure the orientation of replacement Priest Chaplains to hospital before leaving for vacation to ensure uninterrupted continuation of sacramental and pastoral care.

• Priest Chaplain stays physically present and attending to his duties on the hospital premises for at least 6 hours during a 24hour coverage assignment.

• Organize and provide liturgy for patients, families and staff where appropriate; Holy Mass on Sundays and Holy Days and/or Special services, e.g. memorial services.
• Guide the patient/ families/ hospital staff in applying the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Service s, fifth edition to particular ethical dilemmas and guide everyone concerned to understand the role of conscience within the Catholic tradition as communicated by the National Conference of Catholic Bishop.

• Make referrals to appropriate departments within the hospital according to patients need.
• Priest chaplain is expected to regularly confer with the nursing personnel of the hospital units about the religious and spiritual condition of the patients and their immediate families.
• Priest chaplains are required to appropriately document on the patients medical record all important events that may affect medical care. (except matters that are protected by the seal of confession)
• Before beginning hospital ministry priest chaplains must complete medical clearance. All hospital personnel must show proof of mandatory vaccinations before contact with patients and attend hospital employee orientation.
• All persons serving in CHSLI hospitals and care facilities must comply with the established HIPAA regulations for the use and disclosure of Protected Health Information.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Ordination in the Catholic Church and good standing with the Catholic Church and local Ordinary.
• Ability to interface with and support individuals from diverse cultural and faith traditions.
• Ability to work with interdisciplinary teams of doctors, nurses, social workers, etc.
• Must be certified or certification-eligible by, and in good standing with the National Association of Catholic Chaplains and Association of Professional Chaplains.
• Experience in Chaplaincy required.
• Be current in the payment of the professional associations annual dues.

EDUCATION

• Clinical Pastoral Education (3 units) In the absence of Clinical pastoral Education the priest agrees to begin training as soon as he is placed in a CPE unit by the Director.

SKILLS

• Excellent pastoral and communication skills.
• Ability to be pastorally present in difficult circumstances.
• Multi-denominational cultural and religious knowledge and sensitivity.
• Assessment of the spiritual needs of those served, grounded in theology and with an understanding of the behavioral sciences.
• Competence in Microsoft Office.
• Ability to learn and implement system software in reasonable time.A

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