Gel In and Gel Out: A Window into Spiritual Care Visits at a Major Hospital

I serve as a volunteer at a major hospital, working alongside other volunteers, chaplaincy interns, residents, and chaplains of different faiths, to provide spiritual care and comfort to patients and their family members. I'm one of five volunteers who visit Hindu and Sikh patients. We do not have a Hindu chaplain so the On-call and Unit chaplains often seek us out for knowledge of our customs and traditions when language is a barrier or when we might be better able to connect with patients who share our heritage.

After I've checked in, I obtain a list of Hindu and Sikh patients from the daily census and chart my course through the many units of the hospital. Occasionally, a chaplain will refer additional patients along with a specific request. The hospital is a beehive of activity, and I am among scores of others scurrying around doing their jobs. At the end of my day, I will have walked a couple of miles, climbed many flights of stairs, and visited 20-25 patients. Volunteers follow strict protocols. We "gel-in" and "gel-out" for each patient visit; hand sanitization is a cardinal rule to mitigate transmission of disease. We are also required to wear a surgical mask while in the hospital.

I do not have access to patients' medical records. A patient's specific diagnosis or condition is not relevant, although the patient or family member frequently shares information in the course of our conversation. Regardless, I do my best to provide compassionate support -- it is the human condition, not the medical condition that we seek to address. My guiding principle is to allow the patient or family member to drive the conversation. I listen and follow their lead, providing a safe space and building trust. I ask questions to keep conversation going or tease out responses. We deal with serious health conditions and occasionally with existential angst or end of life. We talk, soothe, and brighten their mood and provide the information they seek. Oftentimes, we pray. The requests we get are varied. I've been asked about the nearest Hindu temple, how to get a bus to Stockton, and if there's some nearby place a family member can stay for a few days free of cost. I have facilitated palliative-care consultations, described hospice care, and provided information on mortuaries and priests for last rites. Once, a young woman asked me to help her find her spiritual path.

Interactions with patients range from one visit to multiple visits over weeks, months or years. Many sessions are hard; some are gut wrenching. The occasional interaction is uplifting. It is hard not to develop a relationship or bond with some patients. The day is often emotionally draining and physically tiring. If we do not learn to detach and reset ourselves once the day is over, we will quickly burn out.

Most patients and families are highly appreciative of our visits -- we make a genuine difference in their lives during difficult times and are there for them when it matters most. The hospital staff -- especially the nurses -- also recognize the importance of our work and truly value our visits. The chaplains and department staff are also grateful for our support. Being a spiritual-care volunteer continues to be a fulfilling experience and is its own reward.

Mukund Acharya, Ph.D

Resident Faculty, CHT Program & Director of Ananda Corps, HSCI

Mukund Acharya is Resident Faculty for the CHT Program, Director of Ananda Corps and Member of the Board of Directors at HSCI. He is also President and a co-founder of Sukham.