At this week's Duke AHEAD Education day, GIM faculty members, Drs. Patrick Hemming and Lynn Bowlby received a $500 curriculum development for a project entitled “Clinical Pastoral Education and Caring for Patients in the Outpatient Setting.” This is a unique opportunity to improve the support of outpatients through the support of a chaplain.In this initiative, they are joined by team members Jan Dillard the Licensed Clinical Social worker at the Duke Outpatient Clinic, as well as John P. Oliver, Biju Chacko, and Katherine Henderson from the Department of Chaplain Services and Education.
Chaplains are trained in the hospital to deliver support to patients of all faith and non-faith background to assist with the difficult emotional and personal journeys that patients and families face. This project moves the chaplain outside of the hospital to the primary care world. From August 2019 until May 2020, Katherine Henderson, a chaplain intern, will be doing her clinical training at the Duke Outpatient Clinic. The Duke AHEAD grant will fund a targeted needs assessment survey of patients, staff and providers at the Duke Outpatient Clinic to determine perceived needs for spiritual and chaplain care services from a clinical and educational focus.
Project Summary:
Title: Real-World Training for Chaplains and the Medical Team:Designing a inter-professional curriculum to better respond to the needs of patients
Why is this important?
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Chaplains support patients and families wrestling with crucial challenges
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Chaplains enhance patients’ experiences and satisfaction
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In the U.S. health care system, chaplains work principally in hospitals
Why do a needs assessment?
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Focus the DOC’s outreach and services to patients with spiritual concerns
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Tailor educational content for providers and staff in our multidisciplinary clinic
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Improve and develop specific outcomes for this continuing partnership