NewsLine - February 2012 - (Page 18)

continued from previous page • In Step Two, we would identify that she has more than the typical distressing factors and, thus, she would fall in the bottom third of the scale. • In Step Three, we would assess that she focuses both on the distress and the comfort and, thus, she would be assessed as having a spiritual suffering level of eight. In Summary While there is a need for more testing and possible refinement, the HOB Spiritual Suffering Scale represents an effort to move forward despite the difficulties in defining and measuring spiritual distress. A simple numeric measure of spiritual suffering accommodates improved patient care and care planning, improved interdisciplinary communication, and improved avenues for reporting and for research related to spiritual care. Bonnie Meyer has worked in hospice for 17 years, including 12 years as a hospice chaplain, and five years in her current role as director of spiritual care for Hospice of the Bluegrass. She is boardcertified by The Association of Professional Chaplains, and is an ordained minister in the Unitarian Universalist Association. She also serves as NCHPP’s Spiritual Caregiver Section leader. References 1 The theoretical basis for a biopsychosocial-spiritual model of care was developed by Daniel P Sulmasy. Sulmasy DP: A biopsychosocial-spiritual model for the care of patients at the end of life. Gerontologist 42(Spec No 3):24–33, 2002. Berry D: Methodological pitfalls in the study of religiosity and spirituality. Western J of Nursing Research 27(5): 628-647, 2005, p. 634. VandeCreek L: Professional chaplaincy and clinical pastoral education should become more scientific: Yes and no. NY: Haworth Press, 2002. Published simultaneously as Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy 12(1/2) and 13(1): 2002. Berry D, 2005, p. 636. Puchalski C, Ferrell B, et al: Improving the quality of spiritual care as a dimension of palliative care: The report of the consensus conference. Journal of Palliative Medicine 12(10): 885-904, 2009. Puchalski et al, 2009, p. 887. This definition and this template of sources of spiritual distress were created by Jason Meyer, who is currently in the medical scientist training program at the University of Kentucky. 2 3 4 5 6 7 Join the Spiritual Caregiver Section for Monthly Chats Each month, the NCHPP Spiritual Caregiver Section holds “chats”— or conference calls—which are open to NHPCO members.* They provide an opportunity for professional hospice chaplains and spiritual caregivers to share information related to their roles on hospice and palliative care teams. When Chats are Held: The first Thursday of each month, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. (ET). To Join the Chat: Call 866-355-8646. However , please do NOT dial in earlier than 2:55 p.m. (ET) on the day of the call. *In order to join a chat, you must first be enrolled as an NCHPP member (which is free to all staff and volunteers of NHPCO provider-members). If you are not yet enrolled, call the NHPCO Member Services Department at 800-646-6460. 18 NewsLine http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jpm.2009.0142

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NewsLine - February 2012

Gearing Up for Hospice Advocacy
A Message From Don
MLC 2012 (display ad)
Caring for LGBT Patients
The Voice of NCHPP
Measuring Spiritual Suffering
Spiritual Caregiver Section Monthly Chats
NHF 2012 Gala (display ad)
FHPC’s Transitions Program for African Americans
State Hospice Profiles (display ad)
Experience the ACHC Difference (display ad)
Meet NHPCO’s Hospice Ambassador, Torrey DeVitto
FHSSA Partnership Program (display ad)
Short Takes
Member News and Notes
Regulatory Tip of the Month
Educational Offerings
Resource Links to Bookmark
Videos Worth Watching
News From FHSSA

NewsLine - February 2012