To reach the Spiritual Care office, call 763-236-4536.
Our
Mission:
Rooted in
theological integrity and sacred traditions, we minister to patients, families
and staff
to foster individual and corporate healing, meaning and hope.
Being a patient in the hospital may be a stressful experience, and we believe
that spiritual care is an important part of the healing environment at Unity
Hospital. Our Spiritual Care team is available to provide support, comfort
and guidance to patients, their loved ones, and hospital staff.
Our Scope of
Practice:
Quality
spiritual care: Responding to the
deepest healing needs of patients and their loved ones through spiritual
assessment, care and counseling in collaboration with health care staff
Clinical
education for ministry: Developing competent, spiritually and
ethically sensitive professionals in ministry, through the clinical
education program
Leadership
in ethics: Promoting values of a just and compassionate society
with the hospital, health system and broader community
Spiritual Care
Services
Chaplains are available to patients
and their loved ones for support, comfort, guidance and advocacy. They respect
all religious or spiritual preferences and collaborate with hospital staff to
give patients the best care possible including:
attending to the spiritual and
emotional well-being of patients and their loved ones
listening to and assisting
patients in making meaning of their health care experience
providing spiritual guidance,
devotions, rituals and sacraments
offering compassion and
counseling in the midst of injury, illness and frightening life changes
contacting places of worship
and clergy or other spiritual leaders when requested
consulting on ethical issues
and health care decisions
providing spiritual and
emotional support for hospital staff
David Carlson
is an ordained (1966) Lutheran Pastor (M.Div.) in the ELCA. He graduated
from Augustana College, Rock Island, IL. (1960), and Lutheran School of
Theology also in Rock Island. (1965). He holds a Masters degree in
pastoral counseling and psychology (STM.) from Andover-Newton
Theological School in Newton Centre, MA. (1966). Following five years
of parish ministry in Milwaukee, he has served 34 years as Chaplain or
Director of Pastoral Services in men’s and women’s corrections, state
mental health institute, and general hospitals in Wisconsin, Iowa and
recently retired from Fairview-University Medical Center, Minneapolis,
MN. He became the ACPE Supervisor at Mercy/Unity in August 2009.
Chaplains provide spiritual care on
all patient care units. They are in the hospital on weekdays and on-call at all
times. You can contact the Spiritual Care office at (763) 236-4536. During the
weekdays urgent requests should be directed to a nurse who will contact the
chaplain. During evenings, nights and weekends, contact the Nursing supervisor
for the on-call chaplain.
Also part of the Spiritual Care team:
A Catholic priest makes routine
visits to the hospital and is available for urgent requests as well.
Volunteers also provide the Eucharist throughout the week. A Catholic Mass
is offered at Unity each Wednesday at noon.
Trained volunteers from the
Twin Cities Jewish Healing Program are available to support Jewish patients.
A hospital chaplain will contact volunteers as requested.
Trained Muslim volunteers are
also available to support Islamic patients. A hospital chaplain will contact
volunteers as requested.
Spiritual Care
Resources
The Chapel. The
interfaith chapel at Unity Hospital is always open for prayer and meditation. It
is located on the first floor of the hospital next to the cafeteria.
Prayer Request Cards.
Cards requesting prayer are located in the chapel and prayed for by staff and
visitors.
Devotional Materials.
Bibles, Qur’ans, Sabbath and Hanukkah candles, prayer books, devotional guides,
rosaries, Buddhist and Native American materials are available upon request.
Care Notes.
Pamphlets that offer comfort, guidance, and education are located at our Chapel.
Videos on Demand. Various religious, spiritual, and meditative videos are
provided on our Unity Hospital television network.
For More
Information
If you have a
special request or for more information, contact the Spiritual Care office at
763-236-4536.
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