As modern healthcare continues to grow in complexity, palliative care is taking a greater role in the care of patients. Interprofessional pallaitive care team contribute to delivering high quality of care. Students in this course will develop skills to advance in their role as an interprofessional team member by examining issues of quality improvement, leadership, and policy development.
Students who minister in the healthcare context need the skills to advocate for spiritual care to the larger medical community and to develop better systems that will meet the overall needs of patients. Students who master these skills will be able to act as leader in an interprofessional care team and work for more effective care in the system in which they operate.
Spiritual care works more effectively when it is integrated into the larger network of care that the patient is receiving. It is imperative that today's spiritual care workers are able to speak to the larger systemic issues effecting quality of care and healthcare outcomes of their paitents.
The work of integrating the spiritual dimensions of care into a person's overall care plan is the fulfillment of the biblical mandate to honor the dignity of all persons in body, soul, mind, and strength.
To engage interprofessionally is to incorporate matters of faith and spirit where people are and possibly where they are experiencing their greatest crisis.
Interprofessional care not only meets the person where they are, but it educates other professionals to the spiritual context in which a patient engages his or her medical care.
Interprofessional care teams are diverse and require a Christian to engage team members and patients of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and faith positions.
Students of this course will develop skills that will help them work intentionally and effectively with other professionals.
Students will have opportunity to engage other professionals to learn about other disciplinary approaches to patient care and well-being.
