Spiritual Care Service
A PART OF PATIENT CARE SERVICES DEPARTMENTS
For Patient and Volunteer information and other resources, please click here.
Spiritual Care Service provides spiritual and emotional support.
Whether you are a Stanford Health Care patient, family member, friend, or staff member, Spiritual Care Service is here to compassionately accompany you with:
- Listening
- Open-hearted conversation about hope, gratitude, fear, connection and meaning
- A calm presence
- Prayers and blessings
- Connecting you to your religious, spiritual, or philosophical tradition through our staff, volunteers and referrals to community resources
How We Work
Chaplains or chaplain residents/interns are assigned to in-patient care units, to the Cancer Centers in Palo Alto and South Bay, and to the Palliative Care teams. These chaplains provide a consistent spiritual care presence and develop relationships with unit and team staff colleagues. There is also at least one chaplain or chaplain resident/intern on-call at 300 Pasteur/500 Pasteur at all times.
2018-2019 Spiritual Care Services Team
Center for Clinical Pastoral Education at Stanford
The Center for Clinical Pastoral Education at Stanford is committed to the education and training of spiritual care providers in a global context. Our center is accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Inc. (ACPE) and offers professional education in Spiritual Care for learners from a wide range of religious, spiritual, and philosophical backgrounds.
Program participants are admitted into one of four cohort groups:
- Certified Educator CPE
- Year-Long (Level I and Level II) Residency
- Extended Unit CPE (Level I, Level II or Post-Residency Advance Practice)
- Summer Internship (level I)
At each level, learners bring their experience and interest in spiritual care from a range of contexts, including healthcare. During the training, all of our learners participate as members of the Spiritual Care Service team, and function as spiritual care professionals on patient care units at Stanford Hospital. Cohort groups each have regular class instruction, clinical supervision and individual instruction.
Learn more about CPE at Stanford Health Care »
Staff Support
Health care workers experience stresses, sadness and joys that are unique to our profession. Spiritual Care Service supports our staff through group and individual activities:
- Blessing of the Hands: A blessing to honor the precious work done at Stanford Health Care. Offered on request and during some Spiritual Care Service events.
- Tea for the Soul: A brief gathering of staff on a hospital unit or at a clinic to relax and form stronger relationships.
- Group Support: To debrief from, integrate, and learn from challenging experiences.
- 1:1 support after a difficult experience.
- Memorials: To celebrate the life of a staff member who has died or work with bereaved families and staff to commemorate the life of a patient.
- Schwartz Rounds: A chaplain helps facilitate these bimonthly gatherings for Stanford Health Care staff to discuss how our work impacts us personally and professionally.
Volunteer Services
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Spiritual Care Service Volunteer Program has been temporarily suspended. Stanford Health Care staff can serve as Spiritual Care volunteers when the program is active again.
Learn more about our Volunteer Program »
Chapel
Stanford Hospital is proud to offer an interfaith chapel that is a peaceful place to reflect and pray for patients, families, caregivers, and the community.
Learn more about our Chapel at 500 Pasteur »
Contact Us
Search by Chaplain’s name or Role (On Call Chaplain; Chaplain) on Voalte.
