Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: Improving the Patient Experience through the Integration of Chaplaincy and Ethics Services
Release Date: August 13, 2025
Introduction
In the August 13, 2025 episode of Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, host Kristin Kuchno delves into the pivotal role of chaplains within healthcare organizations. Joining her are two distinguished guests: Jason Lesandrin, Assistant Vice President of Ethics, Advanced Care Planning, Spiritual Health, and Language Access Services at WellStar Health System, and Kelsey B. White, Assistant Professor and Chaplaincy Faculty Researcher at Virginia Commonwealth University, as well as the Editor in Chief at the Journal of Healthcare Chaplaincy. Together, they explore how integrating chaplaincy and ethics services can significantly enhance patient experiences and support the healthcare workforce.
Understanding the Role of Chaplains in Healthcare
Dr. Kelsey White opens the discussion by clarifying the function and importance of chaplains in healthcare settings.
“Chaplains... are the experts that attend to spiritual health in a healthcare organization. They're employed by the healthcare organization... [they] have graduate degrees and about a year of clinical training after that graduate degree...” ([00:46]).
White emphasizes that chaplains are professional, not volunteers, and they play a crucial role in addressing the spiritual and emotional needs of patients, families, and staff. She defines spiritual health as:
“How we all make sense out of the world around us. So how we process difficult experiences and connect, connect to others interpersonally and with our own identity...” ([00:46]).
She further explains that chaplains are trained to support individuals across various religious traditions or even for those who identify as spiritual, humanist, or none at all.
Strategic Integration of Chaplaincy Services
Dr. Lesandrin builds upon White’s overview, detailing how chaplains align with the strategic priorities of hospitals and health systems.
“We want to move away from them as this nice addition that we have on the healthcare team and more thinking about them as strategic players in advancing an organization's goals.” ([02:33]).
He identifies three primary areas where chaplains contribute strategically:
- Workforce Well-being
- Patient Experience and Satisfaction
- Access to Care
Workforce Well-being
Addressing the pervasive issue of clinician burnout, Dr. Lesandrin highlights several initiatives where chaplains play a critical role:
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Code Blue Response: Chaplains accompany clinical teams during resuscitations to provide emotional support.
“Having a chaplain... be present with the clinicians as they're doing their work and or with the family as a support structure...” ([02:44]).
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T for the Soul Program: A mobile chaplaincy cart circulates the organization, offering staff moments of respite and reconnection.
“We found it to be super engaging.” ([03:30]).
Dr. White adds that chaplains spend a significant portion of their time supporting staff through personal and professional crises.
“From literature that spiritual care providers are spending between 20 and 30% of their time caring for staff who are struggling...” ([08:00]).
She cites the example of a "family communication coordinator" role at VCU, which helps navigate the complexities of organ transplantation, thereby reducing stress and maintaining trust between families and clinical teams.
Enhancing Patient Experience
Dr. Lesandrin shares innovative approaches to improving patient satisfaction through chaplaincy services:
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Early Chaplain Engagement: Introducing chaplains to patients within 48 hours of admission to offer support without imposing religious practices.
“It was just a sort of support tool that we used... significantly higher scores of patient experience.” ([04:15]).
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Tele Chaplaincy Programs: Utilizing technology to extend chaplain support to patients diagnosed with various conditions, providing continuous emotional and spiritual support.
“They're just good listening people.” ([06:10]).
These initiatives have been linked to higher patient satisfaction scores, demonstrating the tangible benefits of integrating chaplaincy into patient care.
Access to Care
Lesandrin emphasizes the untapped potential of chaplains in expanding access to care:
“Chaplaincy is an untapped resource in this space and we see it happening in new ways.” ([02:44]).
Examples include tele chaplaincy and support systems that bridge gaps between patients and healthcare providers, ensuring that emotional and spiritual needs are consistently addressed.
Initiatives Supporting Workforce Well-being
Dr. White elaborates on specific programs that bolster staff well-being:
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T for the Soul/CHE Cart: These initiatives provide clinicians with brief moments to pause, reflect, and reconnect with their sense of purpose.
“It increases staff sense of support from leadership even without leadership involved...” ([08:00]).
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Integrated Support Processes: Chaplains are embedded in routine hospital processes to alleviate emotional and practical burdens on staff, such as navigating post-mortem needs or facilitating family communications during critical events.
“Chaplains will be integrated into a process or a routine process... to relieve some of the burden and the stress that clinicians face.” ([08:00]).
These strategies not only support individual staff members but also contribute to a more resilient and supportive organizational culture.
Lessons Learned and Advice for Organizations
When asked about implementing similar programs, Dr. Lesandrin provides actionable insights:
“Healthcare leaders should ask chaplains or spiritual care providers to be present in their team meetings, in their process planning.” ([11:36]).
He advocates for:
- Integration from the Outset: Including chaplains in the early stages of project planning to leverage their unique perspectives.
- Active Participation: Encouraging chaplains to actively contribute and advocate for their role in enhancing patient and staff experiences.
Dr. White reinforces the importance of recognizing chaplains as essential to delivering compassionate care:
“Chaplains are in the top echelon of... providing care and compassion.” ([11:36]).
She underscores that giving chaplains a "seat at the table" is pivotal for maximizing their impact within healthcare organizations.
Conclusion
The episode concludes with host Kristin Kuchno thanking Dr. Lesandrin and Dr. White for their invaluable insights into the integration of chaplaincy services within healthcare. The discussion underscores the multifaceted benefits of chaplains—not only in enhancing patient experiences but also in supporting the well-being of healthcare professionals and aligning with strategic organizational goals.
This comprehensive exploration highlights the indispensable role of chaplains in fostering a compassionate, supportive, and effective healthcare environment.
Notable Quotes
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Dr. Kelsey White:
“...connecting to others interpersonally and with our own identity.” ([00:46])
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Dr. Jason Lesandrin:
“Healthcare leaders should ask chaplains or spiritual care providers to be present in their team meetings...” ([11:36])
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Dr. Kelsey White:
“Chaplains are in the top echelon of... providing care and compassion.” ([11:36])
This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the episode, offering a comprehensive overview for those interested in the strategic integration of chaplaincy in healthcare to improve patient and staff experiences.