Department of Spiritual Care
Nurturing Healing Communities Within and Beyond Meriter

Meriter Hospital, 2 Center 202 S. Park Street Madison, WI 53715 General Information: (608) 417-6480 E-mail: spiritualcare@meriter.com Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday

Do You Want to Create an Advance Medical Directive? You can print off four Wisconsin-specific forms and learn more about medical directives in our Advance Medical Directive section.

Meriter focuses on caring for the whole person - body, mind and spirit. In this framework, Meriter's Department of Spiritual Care focuses on the spiritual care of people at Meriter Hospital. If you, a family member or a friend are in need of spiritual assistance while at Meriter, please feel free to use the following services.

In-house Chaplain Presence

Our chaplains are available within Meriter 24 hours a day to provide ministry to the patients and families of Meriter Hospital. They will also assist you in contacting the clergy or denominational representative of your choice. To request assistance or a visit from one of our chaplains, call (608) 417-6480. Or, call Meriter's switchboard at (608) 417-6000 and ask that the chaplain-on-call be paged.

Meriter's chaplains link with community agencies, congregations, clergy and spiritual caregivers to facilitate timely and appropriate spiritual care. We are pleased that many community clergy members provide ministry at Meriter. They are an integral part of our ministry team.

Confidential Consultation and Counseling

As members of your medical care team, our chaplains collaborate with other Meriter clinicians and provide confidential consultation on matters concerning your health care, treatment decisions and values clarification.

Education Opportunities

We offer many education opportunities throughout the year for the general community, community spiritual caregivers, congregations and Meriter staff. Recent topics have included:

• Change, loss and grief

• Health ministry and parish nursing

• Spiritual assessment

• Advance Medical Directives

• Meditation and prayer

Information for Spiritual Caregivers

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)

We offer a comprehensive clinical program for clergy students that is nationally accredited by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education. If you are a member of the clergy and would like to learn more about enrolling in this program, please visit our Clinical Pastoral Education Program section.

Association of Spiritual Caregivers

More than 100 area faith community leaders belong to Meriter's Association of Spiritual Caregivers. The Association provides spiritual care within Meriter Hospital; learning opportunities for faith community leaders; and assists area faith communities in their efforts to be centers of health and healing. If you are a spiritual caregiver and would like to learn more about joining the Association, please visit our Association of Spiritual Caregivers section.

Night Chaplain Service Opportunities

Sponsored by Meriter's Department of Spiritual Care and the Association of Spiritual Caregivers, Meriter's Night Chaplain Program allows you to provide spiritual care throughout Meriter Hospital. If you are a spiritual caregiver and would like to learn more about night chaplain opportunities, please visit our Night Chaplain section.

Worship Services

We offer many regular worship experiences throughout Meriter. You are welcome to attend them in person. Patients can also watch them on their hospital room televisions (channel 13).

Our chaplains also coordinate regular memorial services for families of patients and residents who die at Meriter. These memorial services assist individuals and groups in developing meaningful rituals of healing and wholeness.

Also note that our chapel is open 24 hours a day and is located on the lobby level, just around the corner from the public elevators in the Tower wing.

12/10/2007