Emergency and Non-Emergency Requests

When notified, our Spiritual Care Providers respond to life-threatening emergencies in the Emergency Department, Critical Care Units and Acute Inpatient Services.

Emergency requests for patients, families and loved ones when a patient's: 

• death is imminent or has just occurred
• medical condition has suddenly worsened
• terminal illness has been diagnosed
• also for patients, families and loved ones who will be given information that may be difficult to hear and who need extra emotional and spiritual support.
  

Non-emergency requests when patients, families, loved ones and staff express::

• isolation and/or loneliness
• despair, and questioning meaning of own life
• guilt, directly or indirectly, regarding past or present life experiences
• doubt, suspicion and anger at God, the church or religion
• challenges from a patient's illness or injury that will necessitate a change in way of life
• religious questions
• ethical or moral issues that must be discussed

• ritual (anointing, communion, baptism, viaticum, blessings, prayers, and in special circumstances, memorials, funerals and weddings)
• Spiritual Care consults