Q: What does a hospital chaplain do?
A: At New Hanover Regional Medical Center chaplains provide spiritual care and emotional support to patients, families, and staff who are emotionally distressed, struggling with religious/spiritual/ethical issues, or who are requesting a specific religious rite or ritual.  Chaplains are available to provide a caring, listening ear.  They also make referrals to appropriate religious groups on behalf of patients and families.

Q: Are the chaplains affiliated with a specific church?
A: Our chaplains are affiliated with particular faith communities, but the work of the Spiritual Care Department is interfaith.  Our goal is to help patients and families utilize their own faith resources.

Q: What does it mean to be 'interfaith'?
A: Being an interfaith department means we value, honor and respect the religious diversity in our medical center.  New Hanover Regional Medical Center chaplains seek to provide spiritual care and understanding among people of all belief systems.  We have religious resources on hand to serve patient, family and staff needs.  If you have questions or concerns, please call (910) 343-7014.

Q: How do I contact a chaplain?
A:  Our chaplains are assigned to clinical areas.  To contact a chaplain, ask a staff member to page the unit chaplain.  You may also come by the Spiritual Care Office on the first floor, near the visitor elevator and next to the Grubbs Chapel or call the office.  Our phone number is (910) 343-7014.

Q:  Is there a Catholic priest on staff?
A:  While we do not have a Roman Catholic priest on staff, we have an arrangement with the priests at a local Catholic Church.  They priests are available for pastoral emergencies, such as anointing of the sick.

Q:  Are your chaplains professionally trained?
A:  Yes.  All New Hanover Regional Medical Center chaplains have had extensive training in ministry.  The Director has been Board Certified by the Association of Professional Chaplains.  The teaching faculty and the Clinical Pastoral Education supervisors have been certified by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.  New Hanover Regional Medical Center is accredited as a teaching center for Clinical Pastoral Education by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.

Q:  Why isn't there a Bible in the patient's room?
A:  We do not place Bibles in patient rooms because of Infection Control.  Literature circulated between rooms and patients can carry germs. If a Bible or other sacred item or devotional book is needed, contact our office at (910) 343-7014, or ask a staff member to contact the on-call chaplain, who will be happy to bring a Bible or devotional book to your room.

Q:  Can I become a volunteer chaplain at New Hanover?
A:  The Chaplain Associate Program consists of qualified and trained individuals who provide on call coverage at Cape Fear Hospital and New Hanover Regional Medical Center.  Acceptance into the program is dependent upon an interview, training, police background check and an interest in ministering to people of various faiths without imposing your own personal belief system on the patient or family.   For more information call our office at (910) 343-7014.