Planning is everything as NACC moves forward

By David Lichter, D. Min.
Executive Director

It’s hard to believe that the timeframe for our 2007-2012 Strategic Plan will soon be concluding! I am first tempted to ask, “So what have we accomplished toward meeting our goals?” However, I am reminded of a quote on planning attributed to President Dwight D. Eisenhower that was used by my former company, Growth Design Corporation: plans are nothing; planning is everything...

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Hospital housekeeper, recovered amputee carry ‘a corner of the bed’

By Alan E. Bowman
NACC Board Chair

In serving as the new Board chair, I have been invited to address the membership in Vision. As I look out my window at the blowing snowstorm here in Denver, CO, and consider the freezing 3-degree temperature outside, I am thankful for the warmth inside. I am also thankful for the more than 100 people who joined together this morning as we celebrated those who care for the sick and suffering in our World Day of the Sick prayer gathering...

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Mayo Clinic survey reveals patient response to ‘our wildly important ministry’

By Katherine M. Piderman, PhD, BCC

I met Mr. Olsen when I was in the third quarter of my CPE residency almost 20 years ago. He was a 74-year-old Minnesota farmer with a serious hematological disease. He talked quite readily about the toll his illness had taken on him and his concerns about his family and the future. His faith was a foundational part of his life and I offered to pray with him. His rather gruff response is one that I have never forgotten. He said, “Well, you’re a chaplain, aren’t you? If you don’t pray with me, what good are you?”

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The challenge: Making electronic health record capture wide range of pastoral interventions

By Brad Hood, MA

Documenting spiritual care is not quite like herding cats but there are probably similar frustrations on the feline frontier. When Catholic Health Partners (CHP) launched a relationship with Epic Systems, a healthcare software company that is supporting CHP’s electronic health record initiative to improve clinical quality, safety and efficiency, representatives from various regions of CHP began working on multidisciplinary pieces of the big puzzle...

‘Come and see!’ chaplains invite questioners

By Rev. Basil G. Royston, DMin

In response to the gentle challenge of James J. Castello's article in the January/February 2011 Vision, “How do you make the case for chaplaincy?” I would like to offer the following few thoughts for consideration...

Milwaukee known for its
architecture, beer baron history, ‘gemutlichkeit’

As you prepare to attend the NACC National Conference in Milwaukee, the members of the Conference Planning Task Force would like to provide some practical information about the conference site, the Hilton Milwaukee Center, located on the main street in one of the Midwest’s most charming cities...