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Spiritual Care in the OPD Harvey A. Elder, M. D.
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Spiritual: Searching the sacred for meaning and purpose Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? What is there after death? Relating to the Sacred, Ultimate, to God Faith is the name of the relationship Medical Strategic Network2
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3 What Is Spiritual Care? Who are the patients in the OPD? Integrated multifactor unity Who do you see? Why come? What supports their identity? What core issues do they face? What are their central spiritual needs? How well are they coping? Providing Spiritual Care
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What Supports Their Identity If physical illness challenges identity If mental mental slowing threatens If emotional emotional varieties threaten If social how perceived threatens If spiritual: belief in Almighty Being stability If merciful/gracious past forgiven If personal love specific, deep and tender If creative self-worth stable not subject to threat Medical Strategic Network4
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Core Issues Faced Who are you? What are you worth? Who cares about you? Who cares for you? What drives you? Are you free from your past? What does you future look like? How do you cope with life? with illness? with stress? All of these complicate illness, compliance and recovery Medical Strategic Network5
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Meet Joe Joe: 23 yr. old, 2 nd yr. of professional school married 6 mo., a committed Christian During exam week for 1 st yr. nocturnal diarrhea, often keeping awake all night. What are his spiritual needs? Medical Strategic Network6
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More about Joe He took Benadryl and this helped a little His mother died of lymphoma, 05/08 He has small lymph nodes below his rt. Jaw What are his spiritual needs? Medical Strategic Network7
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8 What Is Spiritual Care? Who are the patients in the OPD? What are their central spiritual needs? Connection: past, present, future What questions do they deal with? How well are they coping? Providing Spiritual Care
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What Are Their Questions? Physical: Meaning, outcome Suffering, impairment Mental/cognitive: Mental faculties, “loose it,” employment, hobbies Social: Social support, abandonment, financial stability Spiritual: Why me? Where is God in all of this? Medical Strategic Network9
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Meet Cara 71 yr. old lady living with her third husband 1 mo. cough that worsened, especially at night 1 wk. cough can’t breath unless sits up Believes in God and trusts Him when necessary What are her spiritual needs? Medical Strategic Network 10
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Additional Info for Cara Additional information: Second husband died of cancer of the lungs Father died, age 72, of heart failure with severe dyspnea What are her spiritual needs? Medical Strategic Network11
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Medical Strategic Network12 What Is Spiritual Care? Who are the patients in the OPD? What are their central spiritual needs? How well are they coping? Orienting System Role of illness if Identity based on: physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual Spiritual Care in the OPD
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Medical Strategic Network13 What Is Spiritual Care? Who are the patients in the OPD? What are their central spiritual needs? How well are they coping? Spiritual Care in the OPD Initial visit Strategy Meeting spiritual needs
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Initial Visit: Questions “How coping with symptoms/illness/life?” “Religious heritage? Still practicing?” “What are you famous for?” “How has this illness affected the way you see yourself?” “What about your symptoms concerns you?” “How do you view the future”? Medical Strategic Network14
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Strategy Ask something at the first visit Note in the chart something not clarified Keep the conversation going from visit to visit Asking questions about multiple aspects of life frees patients to ask about their concerns Treat each area of concern as you would, any clinical problem: query, evaluate and fine help At some point they will have a major crisis! Medical Strategic Network15
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Respond to Spiritual Needs Connection: presence, listening, hearing Identity: God’s precious child Self-worth, loved Grace: accepted (no shame) Forgiveness confession, repentance (gift), humility Commitment: faith praise and obedience, hope Bring specific spiritual answers to their needs, not generic ones (pray more, read Bible, etc.) No proselytizing Medical Strategic Network16
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Spiritual Care Speaking TRUTH to meet human needs Friendship, building a safe relationship (not Amway!) Connection, willing to share in their suffering Freedom from judgment Helping them find support God, Holy Spirit, Christians friends Stand with encourage, hold as they struggle with Acceptance and love Forgiveness: self and others Self-worth: precious child of God Medical Strategic Network17
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