HCA Florida North Florida Hospital will discontinue providing its own in-house pastoral and spiritual chaplains, instead transitioning to a volunteer-based model.
HCA Florida North Florida Hospital confirmed the change in a June 24 email to The Sun.
“We recognize how important spiritual care can be during a hospital stay, and HCA Florida North Florida Hospital remains committed to supporting the needs of our patients, families and colleagues. Spiritual care will continue to be available through a volunteer-based model, like many hospitals,” the hospital said in the statement. “We will continue to help connect patients and families with pastoral support and, upon request, their preferred clergy or faith leader. Our focus remains on providing compassionate, patient-centered care.”
The hospital declined to explain the reason for the decision. It is unclear whether other HCA hospitals are affected.
The confirmation comes after a social media post in the “Gainesville Word of Mouth” Facebook group claimed the hospital would eliminate its chaplain program under new administration.
The post’s author, who The Sun attempted to contact, described the information as being from a “reliable source” and detailed a personal experience in which a hospital chaplain provided support while his brother spent six weeks in the ICU before dying.
Calling the abrupt decision “disturbing,” the commenter said spiritual care played a critical role during that time.
The post drew dozens of responses from community members, many echoing parallel sentiments about the importance of spiritual care in hospital settings.
Some commenters described pastoral care as an essential component of holistic treatment for patients and families, while others criticized HCA as prioritizing profit over patient care.
Others noted that patients can still request visits from their own clergy or faith leaders, which the hospital says it will help coordinate under the new model.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: HCA Hospital North Florida Hospital shifts to volunteer pastoral care
Reporting by Elliot Tritto, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Elliot Tritto, Gainesville Sun | USA TODAY Network
