With the rise of palliative care, healthcare professionals are recognizing the importance of holistic care. To address these needs, medical teams are more open to interprofessional and interdisciplinary engagement in order to understand the values of and meet the needs of patients. Pallaitive care is at the forefront of this engagement. Students in this course will develop skills and methods for claiming one's place at the table, communicating with other professionals, and contributing meaningfully to the patient's care.
Students who minister in the healthcare context require the skills to advocate for spiritual care to the larger medical community and work with those teams to meet the overall needs of patients. Students who master these skills will be able to work effectively with other members of the healthcare team and contribute more effectively to the overall care of the patient.
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 understand and claim their role in a larger health care team.
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.
