Spiritual Care’s Effect on the Health of the Whole-Person in a Medical Setting

Authors

  • Scott Gramling

Abstract

Spiritual Care is largely overlooked in a hospital setting. It is difficult to measure or quantify the work that a spiritual care team can provide to patients, families and staff to benefit a person’s overall health. The focus, rightfully so, has always been on research to provide the best medical care for our bodies and minds. The human spirit is also an important part of the whole person. The ultimate goal of integrated care is to provide the most holistic, evidence-based, person-centered care possible. It is essential to address both patient and clinician spirituality in achieving this goal because spirituality, broadly defined, is an irreducible dimension of every person regardless of their spiritual, cultural, religious, or other identification. (Balboni, 2014) Although care for the spirit is difficult to assess, it is important to incorporate a whole-person care approach to assist our patients, families and staff to cope with difficult diagnosis and life-changing effects from medical events. It also helps the team in taking a proactive approach to care giving as they understand the emotions and feelings a care recipient might be experiencing during a medical encounter. Spiritual care is essential to providing a holistic approach to healing.

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Published

2025-12-10

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 5 (2025): Articles

Section

Public Health

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