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Chaplain offers guidance to patients, doctors

Healthcare Strategist Trend Watch, July 20, 2007

At St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in Upper Manhattan, one employee works to heal spiritual wounds as doctors and nurses work to heal the physical. The Rev. Margaret A. Muncie serves as a chaplain at the hospital, listening to the problems of patients and medical staff alike, and offering to pray with them, regardless of their religious denominations.

According to The New York Times, many hospitals employ clergy members. Some utilize on-call pastors. Others, like St. Luke's-Roosevelt, retain professionally trained, board-certified healthcare chaplains like Muncie to enhance customer satisfaction, retention, and good will. Insurance carriers do not reimburse hospitals for a chaplain's salary, and the service does not produce revenue, but the value is incalculable, The Times says.

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