The role of the chaplain in the care of the patient

Abstract

In order to understand the role of the chaplain in the care of the patient, the interest of religion and especially the Christian church in the institutional care of sick people must be appreciated. The place of the hospital in modern society is not to be considered only from the medical point ot view, but also with its social, religious and personal implications. After centuries of ideological conflict and professional jealousy centered around the patient, there is now an increasing interest in co-operation between religion and medicine. The chaplain is at the crux of this co-operation. In attempting to analyze this function and relationship, the concept or "role" was drawn from recent work in social psychology. The role concept is useful not only in understanding personality structure and functions but also in delineating the interpersonal relationships of group dynamics. In the case of the chaplaincy, the significant inter-professional group and social context for the role of the chaplain is the health team, or staff of the hospital. Meanwhile the social and psychological implications of the institutional structure of the hospital have to be kept in mind. [TRUNCATED]