In the Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, you'll discover new ways to
tap into the source of devotion, care, and spiritual nourishment that
drives the most successful and inspiring pastoral caregivers and
chaplaincy departments around the country. You'll explore new and
helpful avenues in both foundational and applied interdisciplinary
research in this indispensable area of human need.

Health care chaplains minister with the excitement and burden of
providing pastoral care while the very ground of the health care
system is shaking. With these changes come challenges, opportunities,
and disappointments. In the Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, you'll
see what can be done to expand the horizons of health care chaplaincy
in a day and age where funding shortages and cost containment are
threatening to squeeze pastoral care departments out of existence.

Specifically, the journal has addressed or plans to address the
following issues:
* The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care
Organizations (JCAHO) and pastoral care departments
* effective pastoral care for patients with dementia
* the need for increased attention to prison ministry
* how to acquaint administrators with your ministry so they can
make informed decisions concerning pastoral care
* forgiveness's place in health care
* how to conduct ministry in outpatient settings
* collaboration between chaplains and nurses for the delivery of
spiritual care
* whether or not chaplains can continue a non-agenda stance as
health care changes
* new organizational styles for the delivery of pastoral
care-determining what would happen if chaplains formed their own
organizations which contracted with hospitals
* parish clergy's relationships to their hospitalized parishioners,
the health care institution, and hospital chaplains
* productivity and cost benchmarks for hospital chaplains
The Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy provides you with a wide variety
of field research, sage retrospection, and helpful looks ahead-a true
wellspring of practical and useable wisdom you can take with you and
use every day. This important resource combines seasoned reflection
with current, empirical research for direct application to the field
of health care chaplaincy in medical institutions of all kinds.

Without a doubt, you and your pastoral caregiving practice can only
benefit from such careful collaboration and giving.