Medicine, Religion, and Spirituality in Theological Context

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett McCarty ◽  
Warren Kinghorn
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
Church Health ◽  
Religious Communities ◽  
Religion And Spirituality ◽  
Ordinary Life ◽  
Hospice Movement ◽  
Positive Content ◽  
The Church

Beyond simply providing positive content for “spirituality” or fodder for bioethical debates, theology—considered both as the practices and language of religious communities and as secondary discourse about these practices—is integral to the past, present, and future of modern medicine and health care. Throughout medical history, theologically driven innovations such as the charity hospital have transformed cultural practices of care, and broader theological commitments such as the early Protestant Christian “affirmation of ordinary life” shaped the contours within modern medicine. In the present, theologically-informed institutions and practices such as the hospice movement birthed by Dame Cicely Saunders and the Church Health Center in Memphis, Tennessee continue to transform contemporary health care. And in a future marked by uncertainty and scarcity, theology can help religious communities to resist both secularism and religious triumphalism and instead to embody practices of faithful witness with regard to health and health care.

Religion and Spirituality in Internal Medicine

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia S. Dugdale ◽  
Daniel P. Sulmasy
Keyword(s):  
Internal Medicine ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Care Setting ◽  
Religious Communities ◽  
Team Approach ◽  
Religion And Spirituality ◽  
Medicine Physician ◽  
Faith Traditions ◽  
Internal Medicine Physician

The internal medicine physician has a unique place in a patient’s life. Relationships might endure for years, sharing many of life’s struggles and joys. Doctors may know their patients on many levels, including whether they belong to faith traditions, religious communities, or participate in spiritual practices. Many internists feel religion and spirituality have a place in the health care setting, and there are various tools available for introducing conversations about such matters into the clinical setting. This chapter reviews the literature relevant to religion and spirituality within the context of the practice of internal medicine and proposes best practices for patient care. It suggests that physicians should respectfully inquire about their patients’ spiritual and religious beliefs, make time to address spiritual concerns as they would physical concerns, and make use of the team approach to medical care, drawing on the assistance of chaplains and lay clergy as needed.

scholarly journals Holistic Healthcare for Medically Uninsured: The Church Health Center of Memphis

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 507
Author(s):  
G. Scott Morris
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Center ◽  
Health Care Organization ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Church Health ◽  
Care Plan ◽  
Care Organization ◽  
Care Experience ◽  
Working Uninsured ◽  
The Church

<p>The Church Health Center (CHC) in Memphis was founded in 1987 to provide quality, affordable health care for working, uninsured people and their families. With numerous, dedicated financial support­ers and health care volunteers, CHC has become the largest faith-based health care organization of its type nationally, serving &gt;61,000 patients. CHC embraces a holistic approach to health by promoting wellness in every dimension of life. It offers on-site services including medical care, dentistry, optometry, counseling, social work, and nutrition and fitness education, to promote wellness in every dimension of life. A 2012 economic analysis estimated that a $1 contribution to the CHC provided roughly $8 in health services. The CHC has trained &gt;1200 Congregational Health Promoters to be health leaders and is conducting research on the effectiveness of faith community nurses partnering with congregations to assist in home care for patients recently discharged from Memphis hospitals. The MEMPHIS Plan, CHC’s employer-sponsored health care plan for small business and the self-employed, offers uninsured people in lower-wage jobs access to quality, afford­able health care. The CHC also conducts replications workshops several times a year to share their model with leaders in other communities. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) recently completed a case study that concluded: “The CHC is one of a very few organizations successfully embodying all three components of the IHI Triple Aim by improving population health outcomes, enhancing the individual’s health care experience, and controlling costs. All three have been part of the Center’s DNA since its inception, and as a transform­ing force in the community, the model is well worth national attention.” <em>Ethn Dis.</em>2015;25(4):507-510; doi:10.18865/ ed.25.4.507</p>

Identity of Catholic Schools in Multi-religious Contexts

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 183-194
Author(s):  
Edmund Kee-Fook Chia
Keyword(s):  
Present Article ◽  
Catholic Schools ◽  
Religious Pluralism ◽  
Religious Communities ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
The Church

The phenomenon of religious pluralism is a fact that needs no further discussion. How society and institutions are negotiating its impact, however, certainly needs further scrutiny. Schreiter's call for the construction of local theologies invites us to explore how the preaching of the Gospel has to adapt to the realities of new situations. The present article focuses on Catholic educational institutions and how they are dealing with the multi-cultural and multi-religious communities that are now found not only outside of the schools and universities but also within them as well. Its concern is with how the identity and mission of these Catholic institutions are expressed and measured in the new contexts, taking seriously the teachings of the Church on the role they play in its evangelizing mission.

Between Dechurchification and Religious Persistence

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Detlef Pollack ◽  
Gergely Rosta
Keyword(s):  
Federal Republic ◽  
West Germany ◽  
Religious Communities ◽  
Religious Change ◽  
Protestant Churches ◽  
The Church

The analysis conducted in this chapter of the religious changes undergone by the Federal Republic since its founding considers the religious losses as well as the sometimes astonishing resistance of religious and church entities, but also the observable small religious increases. It addresses the following questions among others: Is it really the case that there has occurred a break in tradition in terms of people’s ties to the church? In which periods was religious change particularly dynamic, and in which periods was it less so? Did this change occur in the Catholic and Protestant churches in parallel? Are there counter-movements when it comes to free churches and small religious communities such as the charismatic churches? How have individualized forms of religiosity developed, especially those of non-church religiosity? The chapter not only describes religious changes in West Germany, but by referring to contextual conditions also explains the main tendencies observable there.

scholarly journals The Catholic Church in America, the Discipline of Bioethics, and the Culture of Life

2011 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 415-436
Author(s):  
Mark S. Latkovic
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Moral Reasoning ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Care Ethics ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Health Care Ethics ◽  
Twentieth Anniversary ◽  
American Society ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

In this paper, I will first briefly discuss why the Catholic Church has always had and continues to have such a great concern for bioethics or health-care ethics, while I also highlight the biblical roots of this concern. Secondly, I will describe some of the ways in which the Catholic Church in America has exercised a positive influence in the field of bioethics, or what was in the mid-twentieth century often called medical ethics. Thirdly, I will sketch how and why the Church has to a large extent lost this influence, tracing how secularization both inside and outside the Church contributed to the destruction of the so-called “Catholic ghetto” and to the assimilation of ideas from the culture that were often alien to the Gospel and sound moral reasoning. Finally, I will offer some general reflections on how the Church can regain her influence in this area—especially with the goal in mind of building a culture of life in American society—and how Catholic scholars in particular can contribute to this effort by following the lead of the late Pope John Paul II's 1995 encyclical on bioethics, Evangelium vitae, whose twentieth anniversary is fast approaching.

Impact of Religion on Traditional Health Care Practices Among the Lepchas of Upper and Lower Lingthem of Upper Dzongu, Sikkim, India

2021 ◽  
pp. 2455328X2199571
Author(s):  
Manisha Thapa ◽  
Pinak Tarafdar
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Traditional Health ◽  
Health Care Practices ◽  
Modern Health Care ◽  
Concept Of Health ◽  
Traditional Health Care ◽  
Primary Means ◽  
Care Practices ◽  
The Village

In all cultures and regions, the concept of health varies, based on the type of environment and prevalent sociocultural traditions. The present study is conducted among the Lepchas of the village of Lingthem divided into two sectors—Upper and Lower Lingthem, Upper Dzongu, North Sikkim. This population comprising Buddhist Lepchas residing away from the mainstream through poor infrastructural facilities still maintain ethnomedical health care practices without influence of major Indian healing systems. Living in the area of Dzongu exclusively inhabited by Lepchas revival of ancient cultural practices is evident among Lepchas of Lingthem. The structure of religious beliefs prevalent among the Lepchas, including traditional animistic as well as Buddhist practices, greatly influence forms of treatment sought for specific ailments. Even today, the use and maintenance of traditional health care with syncretized Buddhist religious belief among residents of Lingthem act as a vital source for understanding the influence of religion on traditional health care practices. Despite the presence of a few modern health care agencies, the traditional treatment of Bongthing (Lepcha shaman) and Buddhist monks remain widely popular as primary means of health care.

scholarly journals Nurses and Pharmaceutical Care: Interprofessional, Evidence-Based Working to Improve Patient Care and Outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5973
Author(s):  
Tinne Dilles ◽  
Jana Heczkova ◽  
Styliani Tziaferi ◽  
Ann Karin Helgesen ◽  
Vigdis Abrahamsen Grøndahl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Pharmaceutical Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Interprofessional Collaboration ◽  
Improve Patient Care ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
Care Quality ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Research Education

Pharmaceutical care necessitates significant efforts from patients, informal caregivers, the interprofessional team of health care professionals and health care system administrators. Collaboration, mutual respect and agreement amongst all stakeholders regarding responsibilities throughout the complex process of pharmaceutical care is needed before patients can take full advantage of modern medicine. Based on the literature and policy documents, in this position paper, we reflect on opportunities for integrated evidence-based pharmaceutical care to improve care quality and patient outcomes from a nursing perspective. Despite the consensus that interprofessional collaboration is essential, in clinical practice, research, education and policy-making challenges are often not addressed interprofessionally. This paper concludes with specific advises to move towards the implementation of more interprofessional, evidence-based pharmaceutical care.

scholarly journals Traditional and Modern Medicine in Worker Health Care

AAOHN Journal ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 454-455
Author(s):  
Catherine Yuan ◽  
Jin Yu
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
World Wide ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
International Perspective ◽  
Health Care Settings ◽  
Worker Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Nursing ◽  
Occupational Health Nursing

Nurses from occupational health care settings around the world, interpreting the theme “Communication, Health Care, and the Community,” presented papers at the First International Conference on Occupational Health Nursing in Edinburgh, Scotland in October, 1986. In keeping with AAOHN's commitment to an international perspective, this article is Part II of a five part series of articles that will be printed in the AAOHN JOURNAL. Next month, Part III of the series will feature, “Occupational Health Nursing World Wide.”

Developmental Stages and Spiritual Coping Responses among Economically Impoverished Women Living with HIV Disease

1998 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anton M. Somlai ◽  
Timothy G. Heckman ◽  
Kristin Hackl ◽  
Michael Morgan ◽  
Dana Welsh
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Religion And Spirituality ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Coping Responses ◽  
Women Living With Hiv ◽  
Regional Health Care ◽  
Care Systems

Identifies environmental markers, situational appraisals, perceived ability to mediate situations and outcomes, primary coping strategies, and purposes served by religion and spirituality in 10 HIV-positive women recruited from a regional health care clinic. Findings indicated that the women experienced a disintegration of family during their early developmental years, yielding feelings of hopelessness and isolation; that their sexual development was marked by rape and incest, and their early adulthood was characterized by failed relationships, pregnancies, drugs, and alcohol. Reports that the women's religious influences were predominantly maternal and provided a model for intercessory prayer. Notes that prior to their diagnosis of HIV, participants described their coping as escapist, while after diagnosis they believed there was a divine intercession renewing their spiritual growth and connectedness with others. Reports that the women's personal spirituality was greatly influenced by prayer, television ministries, and reading the Bible. Suggests that interventions that actively recruit women into social support services, health care systems, and faith congregations are needed and that television ministries may serve as access points for connecting women with necessary services.

scholarly journals Ageing and the Technological Imaginary: Living and Dying in the Age of Perpetual Innovation

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey P. Bishop
Keyword(s):  
Technological Innovation ◽  
Human Perception ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
Social Imaginary ◽  
Technological Evolution ◽  
Counter Narrative ◽  
Perception Of Time ◽  
The Moment ◽  
The Church ◽  
Technological Imaginary

Technology tends toward perpetual innovation. Technology, enabled by both political and economic structures, propels society forward in a kind of technological evolution. The moment a novel piece of technology is in place, immediately innovations are attempted in a process of unending betterment. Bernard Stiegler suggests that, contra Heidegger, it is not being-toward-death that shapes human perception of time, life, death, and meaning. Rather, it is technological innovation that shapes human perception of time, life, death, and meaning. In fact, for Stiegler, human evolution has always been part of technological evolution. While one can quibble with the notion of human-technology co-evolution, there is something to be said for the way in which human perception of time, of ageing, and of death seems to be judged against the horizon of perpetual evolution of technological innovation. In this technological imaginary, of which modern medicine is constituent, ageing and death seemingly may be infinitely deferred, and it is this innovating deferral that shapes the contemporary social imaginary around ageing and death in modern medicine. Yet, the reality of living (which is to say ageing) and dying always manifests itself differently than the scripts given to us by the technological imaginary with its myth of endless innovation. In fact, I shall argue that, where the Church created an ars moriendi, the technological imaginary gives us an ars ad mortem when it becomes clear that ageing and death cannot be infinitely deferred. And further, I shall argue that the Church must revivify its ars vivendi—that is to say, its liturgies, its arts, its technics—as a counter narrative to the myth of perpetual innovation that shapes the technological imaginary.

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