Letter to the Editor

Clinicians, Chaplains and Spiritual Care

Authors: Frederic C. Craigie Jr, PhD

Abstract

To the Editor:


The June 2006 issue of the Southern Medical Journal featured a special section arising out of the SMJ Spirituality/Medicine Interface Project. Several articles in this section highlighted the contribution of pastoral care professionals to the process of health care and healing. Referring to chaplains as “hidden assets,” the editorial introduction to this special section emphasized the specific training, knowledge and expertise of chaplains, with the preface that it was “not our intention to advocate that clinicians attend to the spiritual needs of patients under their care.”

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