Departments within hospitals, HMOs and other health care institutions that provide for the spiritual care of patients with severe, chronic or terminal conditions, their families and staff, regardless of their religious traditions. Pastoral care workers work cooperatively with the health care team; listen, elicit and respond to individual religious/spiritual needs; identify and clarify ethical issues related to end-of-life treatment and care; provide bereavement support for family members, significant others and professional staff; and ensure that treatment addresses the whole person, not just his or her medical needs. The service is provided by licensed clergy or trained, accredited spiritual care volunteers.

[ View Programs and Services (7) | Related Topics ]

Programs that provide support services for patients and their families during hospitalization and upon discharge, for people receiving outpatient services, for previous patients and for other people not previously associated with the facility who need the service. Included are consultation and the coordination of available services for the patient's continuing care at home or in a short or long-term care facility; or whatever other support may be needed to help resolve the logistical, social and psychological problems related to the illness.

[ View Programs and Services (1) | Related Topics ]

Programs that grant wishes which will enrich the lives of people who are unable to fulfill them on their own, e.g., a visit to Disneyland, an opportunity to meet a film star or sports personality or a reunion with family members. Also included are programs that arrange trips or other experiences for individuals and groups. Most wish fulfillment programs serve children and adults who are terminally or gravely ill. Other populations may include seniors, veterans and individuals who are chronically or seriously ill, physically challenged or abused.

[ View Programs and Services (3) ]

Programs that provide a temporary place to stay for individuals and/or families who require this type of assistance based on the health condition of a family member.

[ View Programs and Services (8) | Related Topics ]

Programs that help people navigate through the maze of doctors' offices, clinics, hospitals, outpatient centres, insurance and payment systems, patient-support organizations and other components of the health care system with the objective of supporting timely delivery of quality care and ensuring that patients, survivors and families are satisfied with their encounters with the health care system. Personal health care advocates are trained health care workers, often nurses, or volunteers familiar with the health care system who work independently of any health care institution. They help patients identify specialists, coordinate appointments with providers to assure timely delivery of diagnostic and treatment services, provide "cheat sheets" of questions, and lay out the choices patients have in plain English. They may also ensure that appropriate medical records are available at scheduled appointments, accompany patients to medical appointments, arrange language translation or interpretation services, facilitate financial support and help with paperwork, negotiate insurance claims, arrange transportation and/or child/elder care, provide access to clinical trials and facilitate linkages to follow-up services. Some programs contract with employers to serve as personal advocates for employees who are ill; and others work exclusively with individuals who have specific illnesses, e.g., cancer.

[ View Programs and Services (21) | Related Topics ]