The Gift of Service

"Oddly enough, my time as a volunteer may have done more for me than for anyone. The great experiences I have had and the people I have met through volunteering have changed my life."


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University of Utah Health Care

Pastoral Care

Purpose

To identify patients who would like to be visited by a representative of his/her faith

Reports To

Volunteer Services Department Coordinator

Days/Hours

Any morning, afternoon or evening

Qualifications

Must be 18 or older and endorsed by their religious group

Duties/Responsibilities

  • Must have pastoral training

  • Members of the clergy are to restrict their visits to patients of their own faith, except when their services are specifically requested by a patient

  • Check the religious census located at the information desk to verify the patients who are to be visited

  • Check with the charge nurse on each unit to verify patients who cannot be seen

  • Advise patients that there is a hospital chaplain, and how to contact the chaplain

  • Verify with the charge nurse which patients are NPO (nothing by mouth) before distributing communion/sacrament

  • Refer any patient care problems to the charge nurse. Length of pastoral visit is to be determined by the patient and/or nurse.

  • Provide a pastoral care visit request form to patients who have not been listed on the religious census