Discoveries

Care for the Spirit

Oct 12, 2020 Cedars-Sinai Staff

Hospitalized patients have complex spiritual needs. The Cedars-Sinai Spiritual Care department provides crucial guidance and comfort to patients in medical crisis, to those experiencing pain and uncertainty, and to friends and family members experiencing grief or distress.

Visitors to the hospital represent an especially broad array of religious and cultural backgrounds. Cedars-Sinai’s interfaith-trained staff draw from many religions and can serve patients of all creeds, including those with no religious beliefs or traditions. The department also trains community clergy to learn to better support their hospitalized congregants.

23745

Visits with patients and families by Spiritual Care department chaplains in 2019

People attended weekly worship services in the Cedars-Sinai chapel in 2019

8000

50 +

Faith traditions represented in people served by chaplains to date

Students in 2019 who trained in Cedars-Sinai’s nationally accredited clinical pastoral education program, which offers clergy members real-world experience engaging with hospitalized patients and families

Fellows who have completed or are currently enrolled in Cedars-Sinai’s clinical pastoral education program, which helps fulfill requirements to become a board-certified chaplain