Edward Peñate

Discipline: Chaplain

Funding awarded to: Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Screening for Religious/Spiritual (R/S) Struggle by Palliative Care non-chaplain health care staff

The overall aim of this project is to evaluate the use of an R/S struggle screening protocol by non-chaplain health care staff, in adult palliative care as a means to identify and refer patients who may need or desire spiritual care services. The specific aims of the project are: 1. To determine the proportion of new patient admissions for whom the health care staff were able to implement the screening protocol (identify barriers, if any, to implementation of the R/S screening protocol, identify best times to screen, how often to screen and or how having different types of diagnosis may impact this trajectory); 2. To determine the proportion of patients who screen positive for potential R/S struggle. 3. To compare the identification of potential cases of R/S struggle made based on the screening protocol with the results of a chaplain's routine spiritual assessment interview. 4. To determine the proportion of screened patients who accept spiritual care services.

“Becoming a palliative care chaplain was, for me, the ultimate opportunity to help others. As a proud member of Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s (NMH) Palliative Care Team, I’m part of a team that is exceptional in how we care for patients and families. I’m privileged to accompany patients and families at their most vulnerable moments, to listen and learn from them, to understand their stories, values, and beliefs.”