# data[].attributes.body
Quote - Juliette Bannister
“A staff member’s comfort in assessing spirituality may be linked to his or
her own experiences with spirituality. For this reason, if your organization or
community has pastoral care resources,
it may also be helpful to access information from pastoral care professionals.
Clinically trained, professional
pastoral care providers can offer insight
and assistance in developing spiritual
assessments for your organization” (JCAHO, 2015).
Clinically trained chaplains are board-certified by three organizations within the United States: The National Association of Jewish Chaplains, the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, and the Association of Professional Chaplains. These organization ensure that certain competencies are met in the area of professional Standards, common qualifications and competencies, professional ethics, and standards of practice for professional chaplains (Timberlake Membership Software, n.d.).
Reference
Joint Commission (2005). Evaluating your Spiritual Assessment Process. http://www.professionalchaplains.org/files/resources/reading_room/evaluating_your_spiritual_assessment_process.pdf

Timberlake Membership Software. (n.d.). Professional Standards. Retrieved from http://www.professionalchaplains.org/content.asp?pl=198&contentid=198

I believe is an important
I believe is an important trait of christian health care practitioners. It was through love and relationship that Jesus was able to administer help and healing while He was on earth and even now.
Shikha Sharma
Shikha Sharma
"Doctor, you don't understand. I am not in pain that is a problem. The problem us that I no longer know who I am. "
This is very true when it comes to certain patients and for people in general. Sadly, we as health care professionals forget spirituality is an integral part of a person. We often get confuse spirituality with religion.
While spirituality is about determining common principles, values and ethics; religion focuses on salvation through one truth. Spirituality unites people, while religion divides people.
We should look out for our patients and their spiritual health. While multidisciplinary approach is getting famous for providing the best health care for the patients, spirituality still remains infamous or untouched.
Hi, PugazhenthiI agree with you that patient’s spiritual belief help to cope with illness and this explains the positive association between health and spirituality and health care professionals will definitely make a significant impact on the positive outcome by integrating patient’s belief system. Kalpana
Hi, PugazhenthiI agree with you that patient’s spiritual belief help to cope with illness and this explains the positive association between health and spirituality and health care professionals will definitely make a significant impact on the positive outcome by integrating patient’s belief system. Kalpana
Favorite Quote (Chioma Ejiofor)
Favorite Quote (Chioma Ejiofor)
"I believe the overall goal of the clinician is to find common ground with all patients and that means not trying to change beliefs but rather trying to support beliefs that help patients cope" (Koenig, 2008) I really liked this quote as it reminds as not to view religious beliefs as a whip of correction but as a source of strength and support. Too many times we view individuals with differing beliefs as battles to conquer. This view does not allow us to relate with the individual. Being able to relate I believe is an important trait of christian health care practitioners. It was through love and relationship that Jesus was able to administer help and healing while He was on earth and even now.
(Jacqlene Johnson)
The s
(Jacqlene Johnson)
The story about Dr. Paul Kliewer from this week's reading is a very heart warming story. For a person to know that he will not find a physical cure for his illness, but can still have the strength to seek mental, emotional and spiritual balance in life in such a challenging time of his life is admirable. He did not give up his beliefs. He continued having faith and thus his faith led him to lead an emotionally sound and spiritually connected life even during the worst phase of his life. This story is a motivation to all who give up on life  on trivial issues. It is an inspiration to each one of us to never give up and lead a life  that is meaningful by having faith in God.
Spirituality in patient care (Smart-White
Spirituality in patient care (Smart-White
“A particular disease is what everyone with a disease has in common, but the illness experience of each person is unique. Wellness requires dealing with the disease present in the body, the traditional task of medicine. Dis-ease is a lack of peace or comfort centered in the non-physical aspects of the person. Dis-ease relates to the emotional, spiritual, and relational. What is common to both of these models is a broadened concept of personhood” (Koenig, 2008).
Thoughts on spirituality in patient care (Mamata Mariyappa
Thoughts on spirituality in patient care (Mamata Mariyappa
Mindful practice requires a healthcare practitioner to look at the multidimensional aspects of a patient that involves physical, mental and spiritual well-being. As explained in this article, a particular disease causes varying illness in each individual with similar disease and this explains how wellness is multifaceted.  With real life examples in this article, it effectively explains the relevance of multidimensional approach. The video was also very informative on incorporating spirituality in our practice. I believe that we are more than just physical body and that our conscious mind has capability to send signals which can direct our body in healing process.

Favorite Quote from Kliew
Favorite Quote from Kliewer and Saultz (Chapter 1.) (Ashwin)
“If health is more than the absence of disease, and broader than the single dimension of suffering, then a healer’s task is larger than the detection and eradication of a specific disease state. It has do with quality of life, with the richness that is evoked when we truly ask and answer the question, ‘How are you?’
Thoughts on Spirituality and Holistic Patient Care (Mette Coleman)
Thoughts on Spirituality and Holistic Patient Care (Mette Coleman)
All of the readings and the video provided for this week have helped me think of spirituality as a universal and basic phenomenon. The definitions and research provided by Dr Harold Koenig in his video teaching on Spirituality in patient care were particularly enlightening. For some patients, spirituality is only a small piece of a larger puzzle, for others, spirituality creates a background and framework for a large piece of work (life). As physical therapist , we use and rely on our assessment to guide our treatment and intervention. Without proper assessment skills, we loose oversight, lack guidance, and direction. To effectively integrate spirituality into patient care we must be culturally and spiritually competent to properly assess and identify patient's spiritual needs. Our education
and training must reflect and promote spiritual and cultural competence. The Joint Commission's article on evaluating your spiritual assessment process recognizes the skill and training needed. It is essential that we as health care providers deepen our inner life, so we can effective relate and understand our patients.
"Sons of Buddha, when you see all the ill persons, you should offer them exactly the same as you offer the Buddha, with no difference."
(Buddhist Sutra)
Favorite Quote (Farhaad Shroff)
Favorite Quote (Farhaad Shroff)
"What then, is a person? ... Everybody knows what direction medical science has pursued for a hundred years now in order to answer that question. It has pursued the direction of materialism. And from that point of view man is compared with a machine, or more precisely, with an assemblage of machines.. man is a complex ensemble of different machines - digestive system, respiratory, nervous, urinary systems, etc"

This quote struck a cord inside me. We as physical therapists, tend to look at the patient as a condition or a disease. Very rarely do we consider the person as a whole. Some medical professionals only look at the medical side and not at the psychological or mental side. This results in just the condition being treated and not the person. Many times, there is more going on with a person than just their condition which is cannot be considered a successful treatment. If we take the entire patient into consideration, including their spiritual, mental, physical and emotional states into conditions, we can become a true healer.
Pt will benefit from skil
Pt will benefit from skilled PT to decrease pain and minimize her impairments to improve overall function. Thank you for this referral.
Favorite Quote from Kliewer and Saultz (Chapter 1.) (Ashwin)
Favorite Quote from Kliewer and Saultz (Chapter 1.) (Ashwin)
“If health is more than the absence of disease, and broader than the single dimension of suffering, then a healer’s task is larger than the detection and eradication of a specific disease state. It has do with quality of life, with the richness that is evoked when we truly ask and answer the question, ‘How are you?’ “.

This made me contemplate on our roles as healers and where we stand in this continuum of healing.

Ongoing research in quantum / energy medicine postulates that the human body is a happy colony of 50-100 trillion individual human cells, which are individually capable of living independently, as they are equipped with all that a normal human being is endowed with. 2

Research on cell intelligence has thrown up evidence that “Cells can 'see', i.e. they can map the directions of near-infrared light sources in their environment and direct their movements toward them. No such 'vision' is possible without a very sophisticated signal processing system ('cell brain') that is linked to the movement control of the cell”

If we stretch these theories to their very end, logic and science would refuse to provide answers and it would step in to the realms of consciousness and spirituality where jargon and linear mathematical models might fail to come up with an answer. As the physicist, Max Planck said: “I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness.”

If so, are we spiritual facilitators in healing? Something to ponder!

References:

1. http://www.basic.northwestern.edu/g-buehler/summary.htm

2. http://medind.nic.in/jac/t12/i4/jact12i4p274.pdf

Thoughts on Patient care and Healing (Ogwu Susan)
Thoughts on Patient care and Healing (Ogwu Susan)
Life or existence is all connected or relational. Caring for the whole person (different dimensions) can be effective by helping to keep the balance in this connection. The explanation given by Miller and Thoresen on health seems to address this connection more effectively - addressing suffering (e.g pain), coherence and function to improve quality of life (balance connection) and not just trying to cure or fix patients. A care giver’s task is to partner with patients to achieve this. To incorporate their beliefs, fears and hopes to therapeutic plans.

Kliewer & Saultz Ch.1: (Hina Shaikh)
Kliewer & Saultz Ch.1:         (Hina Shaikh)
Hazrat Inayat Khan, a sufi teacher and a muslim leader has excellently desribed a set of qualities needed for personhood in his book which is named as 'The Inner Life'. In this book he mentions that "the purpose of life is, to not only live in the body, but to live in the heart, to live in the soul." He also explains that to be able to see oneself merely as a body is nothing but to create limitations and to remain being unaware that another part of ourself exists which is much more higher and wonderful, exalted and more living. For the author, living as a multidimensional being is possible only when a person connects with God. This relationship buliding leads to empowerment of a person who becomes multifaceted through the inner connection with the divine power.
To me, this idea highlights the concept of giving importance to the soul and trying to connect with God and orient oneself to the multiple dimensions of well being.
SPIRITUALITY ASSESSMENT: Very often Spirituality is not very well understood, to be religious does not mean that a person is spiritual. Spirituality and religion are two independent facets with its own applicability.The spirituality makes an individual to know the purpose and meaning of life. Spirituality helps a person to experience hope, love, inner peace, comfort and support because of his belief system in religion. Spirituality can be found through communing with nature, music, meditation, worship, and so on. The inculcation of spiritual assessment in the overall patient’s assessment builds a hope within a patient of receiving HOPE, decreasing depression and helping patients to cope with difficult illness and improve the patient’s outcome. It’s very interesting to know that a study conducted reported that 40% patients were for and not against the physicians asking the patients about their religion and belief system and how this affect their medical decisions and coping ability in terminal illness.I believe that including spiritual assessment in the patient’s overall assessment will definitely bring HOPE in the medical care system.“Spirituality is not adopting more beliefs and assumptions but uncovering the best in you.”
SPIRITUALITY ASSESSMENT: Very often Spirituality is not very well understood, to be religious does not mean that a person is spiritual.  Spirituality and religion are two independent facets with its own applicability.The spirituality makes an individual to know the purpose and meaning of life. Spirituality helps a person to experience hope, love, inner peace, comfort and support because of his belief system in religion. Spirituality can be found through communing with nature, music, meditation, worship, and so on. The inculcation of spiritual assessment in the overall patient’s assessment builds a hope within a patient of receiving HOPE, decreasing depression and helping patients to cope with difficult illness and improve the patient’s outcome. It’s very interesting to know that a study conducted reported that 40% patients were for and not against the physicians asking the patients about their religion and belief system and how this affect their medical decisions and coping ability in terminal illness.I believe that including spiritual assessment in the patient’s overall assessment will definitely bring HOPE in the medical care system.“Spirituality is not adopting more beliefs and assumptions but uncovering the best in you.”

The Noetic Sciences and Spirituality
The Noetic Sciences and Spirituality
National Public Radio recently featured an interview with author and self-described 'psychonaut' Michael Pollan on the therapeutic applications of psychedelics. In this interview, Pollan recounted the experience of a terminally-ill man who used psychoactive drugs that resulted in a vision which brought him inner peace and acceptance of his inevitable death. Pollan also briefly talked about the place of psychedelics in the noetic sciences.

The noetic sciences are basically the application of scientific methods such as observation, experimentation, and replication to very subjective concepts, most importantly, human consciousness (Gross, 2018). This week’s reading reminded me of this interview because this idea of the noetic sciences seems to straddle two concepts: spirituality and humanism.

Harold Koenig argues that a more viable definition of spirituality would include associations to religion since historically, spirituality has been linked to religion (Koenig, 2008). This doesn’t accurately describe the noetic sciences as religious, spiritual experiences are not quantitative but the noetic science’s link to religion and spirituality is hard to ignore. Both delve into similar issues, such as morality and mortality. On the other hand, the noetic sciences seem to borrow from humanism which relies more on human effort and is more concerned with human interest (Koenig, 2008). It appears to be an intersection of religion and science.

I know people rely on many different things to make sense of the world and life. I rely on religion and spiritual experiences. The noetic sciences are another perspective people use. I’m curious to know, has anyone heard of this concept? What do you rely on to make sense of this world and your life?

References
Koenig, H.G. (2008). Medicine, religion, and health: Where science and spirituality meet. Conshohocken, PA: Templeton Press

Gross, T. (2018, May 15). Fresh Air [Radio series]. Philadelphia: WHYY

Kliewer and Saultz: "He focused on all the aspects of his personhood...(Gail)
Kliewer and Saultz: "He focused on all the aspects of his personhood...(Gail)
and sought enrichment and healing in each sphere." His focus on treating his whole person resulted in his remission. The remission allowed a Lazarus experience which gave him even more time to get it right with his family and community.  This is what gives us true hope and allowed Dr. Paul to pass on even more goodness and service  to his family and community.  You can tell he had a huge effect on others.  The community held a prayer vigil for him, when he eventually died the community celebrated his life well.  His statement that "in some ways these were some of the richest years of my life".  What a testament!
Finding Distinctions (Justin)
Finding Distinctions (Justin)
"Finding the proper distinctions between religion, spirituality, humanism, and other psychosocial concepts is especially important for research that wants to identify the exact causes of better health and medical outcomes." - Koenig.
Something beyond Universe
Something beyond Universe
"Something beyond Universe" ( Sarathy
"Something beyond Universe" ( Sarathy
Moored spirituality – Eastern   type:

Quote from reading passage of page (11-15)- “Something beyond universe”. The story about Mr. Harvey, He was diagnosed with chronic lung condition which requires lung transplant but due to his lack of social support and other medical reason he was not getting lung transplantation. Here the spirituality is missing greatly. He was not seen as whole person. He was only seen as physical body with lung condition. He has inner sole and spiritual things which were ignored completely here. As per Moored spirituality, there is a chance of improving his lung condition by practicing meditation, yoga which may improve his inner energy sources. By that he will have more energy to combat his lung condition and could lead better life in future. Though he doesn’t have lot of spiritual connection in his personal life due to his medical condition, he should be encouraged to attend spiritual activities like attending church, doing Meditation and yoga with pranayama (Breathing techniques which enables energy conservation) will give him better lung function than lung transplantation. Because we have a belief of superior force is present than mankind force as per this system, we have belief of something beyond the universal is there. As per this system, we cannot decide just by physical body, good thing will happen if you believe and practice, that will establish connection between sole and divine things, that will generate more inner peach and force to function better. My point here is treat the patient as a whole not just merely by physical conditions.

Patients’ religious/spiritual belief help to cope or manage illness. – Pugazhenthi Narasimhan (PUGI)This reminds me of a patient that I treated 5 years ago, who had severe discogenic issues. Her MRI showed severe L4/L5 disc prolapse. Every time, before I commence my treatment she would request me to hold her hand for 2 mins in silence. I assumed she was doing this to relax herself. I found out later that she was praying for me and herself. When I questioned her the purpose of including me in her prayer, she replied that God was healing her through me. According to her, I was God’s agent for her healing. This incident, I thought, reverberates well with the statement in Dr. Koenig video 1: “Patients’ religious/spiritual belief help to cope or manage illness”. This explains the positive association between health and spirituality. I believe that health care professionals, in future, can make significant impact on their outcome by Integrating patients’ belief system. This patient would fit well with Moored spirituality western type 1 according to Martin E Marty.This incident also fits well with another quote from Chapter 1(Kliewer and Saultz): “A particular disease is what everyone with that disease has in common, but the illness experience of each person is unique”. It was astonishing to witness a patient with acute painful condition, who was able to turn off her nociceptive signal from her injury at will, using her belief system.
Patients’ religious/spiritual belief help to cope or manage illness. – Pugazhenthi Narasimhan (PUGI)This reminds me of a patient that I treated 5 years ago, who had severe discogenic issues. Her MRI showed severe L4/L5 disc prolapse. Every time, before I commence my treatment she would request me to hold her hand for 2 mins in silence. I assumed she was doing this to relax herself. I found out later that she was praying for me and herself. When I questioned her the purpose of including me in her prayer, she replied that God was healing her through me. According to her, I was God’s agent for her healing.  This incident, I thought, reverberates well with the statement in Dr. Koenig video 1: “Patients’ religious/spiritual belief help to cope or manage illness”. This explains the positive association between health and spirituality. I believe that health care professionals, in future, can make significant impact on their outcome by Integrating patients’ belief system. This patient would fit well with Moored spirituality western type 1 according to Martin E Marty.This incident also fits well with another quote from Chapter 1(Kliewer and Saultz): “A particular disease is what everyone with that disease has in common, but the illness experience of each person is unique”. It was astonishing to witness a patient with acute painful condition, who was able to turn off her nociceptive signal from her injury at will, using her belief system.
Quote & Thought from Kliewer & Saultz [Hirving H.]
Quote & Thought from Kliewer & Saultz [Hirving H.]
"The religious affiliation of a person can be an excellent clue about a person's spiritual mode, but is not an infallible indicator." Viewing a patient from a three-dimensional and holistic perspective allows us to be better healthcare providers in addressing both "disease" and "illness". A person's spiritual state in life can dictate their resolve and resiliency to face, fight and overcome health adversity. However, the misconception is that because a person is of a religious affiliation and a habitual "church-goer", this patient has a strong spiritual foundation. It is becoming harder in mainstream Christianity to distinguish between what is deep and enlightening spiritual  living and that which is just vain religiosity.
Matthew 7:20-23

Personhood and Medicine (Andrij
Personhood and Medicine (Andrij
This week's readings remind me of a painting I saw at the Tate Britain a few years back: "The Doctor" by Sir Luke Fildes. It is highly likely that at this time, the doctor did not have the cure to this child's disease. But with his presence, and expression of genuine compassion and care, he undoubtedly became a facilitator in the healing process of that patient and patient's family.
Whole person approach to health care. (Hazel) Thought from reading:
Whole person approach to health care. (Hazel) Thought from reading:
By not addressing the spiritual needs of patients could have contributed to some of today's healthcare problems. Spiritual health for some is important as physical health. Spiritual needs have a deep effect on patients’ health outcomes and justify the importance of addressing these needs in health care setting.

Story about Dr. Paul in Kliewer & Saultz Ch 1 pg 20-21 (Jacqlene Johnson)
Story about Dr. Paul in Kliewer & Saultz Ch 1 pg 20-21 (Jacqlene Johnson)
The story about Dr. Paul Kliewer from this week's reading is a very heart warming story. For a person to know that he will not find a physical cure for his illness, but can still have the strength to seek mental, emotional and spiritual balance in life in such a challenging time of his life is admirable. He did not give up his beliefs. He continued having faith and thus his faith led him to lead an emotionally sound and spiritually connected life even during the worst phase of his life. This story is a motivation to all who give up on life  on trivial issues. It is an inspiration to each one of us to never give up and lead a life  that is meaningful by having faith in God.
Favorite Hospitality Quote from Kliewer & Saultz (Memory):
Favorite Hospitality Quote from Kliewer & Saultz (Memory):
“Hospitality means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom… it is not an educated intimidation with good books, good stories, and good works, but the liberation of fearful hearts… The paradox of hospitality is that it wants to create emptiness, not a fearful emptiness, but a friendly emptiness where strangers can enter and discover themselves as created free – free to sing their own song, speak their own languages, dance their own dances; free also to leave and follow their own vocations."

Health and Healing (Borko Rodic)
Health and Healing (Borko Rodic)
...we must learn to recognize the role played by physical, psychological, emotional, social, spiritual and environmental factors in contributing to the overall quality of our lives (Rapgay)
Thoughtful quote that resonated with me from Kliewer & Saultz reading (Alan Lam):
Thoughtful quote that resonated with me from Kliewer & Saultz reading (Alan Lam):
"I believe the overall goal of the clinician is to find common ground with all patients, and that means not trying to change beliefs, but rather trying to support beliefs that help patients cope."
My view on patient-centered care, supported in the reading material ( Kalai )
My view on patient-centered care, supported in the reading material ( Kalai )
Patient-centered care is the funnest term most of us use in the modern medicine practice, but given the least importance to the actual meaning of the word. Looks like we are still following the single dimensional view on our patients described by Laennec, a french clinician in early 1800s instead of the patient as a whole. I hear this "patient-centered care" in almost every meetings, conferences, but the truth is completely different.
Favorite Quote from Kliewer and Saultz reading (Mike Williams)
Favorite Quote from Kliewer and Saultz reading (Mike Williams)
"Some people find cure.  Some people find healing.  Some people find cure without healing.  Some people find healing without cure.  The ultimate goal of healthcare should not be cure alone, but the healing of the whole person."

I believe is an important
I believe is an important trait of christian health care practitioners. It was through love and relationship that Jesus was able to administer help and healing while He was on earth and even now.
Shikha Sharma
Shikha Sharma
"Doctor, you don't understand. I am not in pain that is a problem. The problem us that I no longer know who I am. "
This is very true when it comes to certain patients and for people in general. Sadly, we as health care professionals forget spirituality is an integral part of a person. We often get confuse spirituality with religion.
While spirituality is about determining common principles, values and ethics; religion focuses on salvation through one truth. Spirituality unites people, while religion divides people.
We should look out for our patients and their spiritual health. While multidisciplinary approach is getting famous for providing the best health care for the patients, spirituality still remains infamous or untouched.
Hi, PugazhenthiI agree with you that patient’s spiritual belief help to cope with illness and this explains the positive association between health and spirituality and health care professionals will definitely make a significant impact on the positive outcome by integrating patient’s belief system. Kalpana
Hi, PugazhenthiI agree with you that patient’s spiritual belief help to cope with illness and this explains the positive association between health and spirituality and health care professionals will definitely make a significant impact on the positive outcome by integrating patient’s belief system. Kalpana
Favorite Quote (Chioma Ejiofor)
Favorite Quote (Chioma Ejiofor)
"I believe the overall goal of the clinician is to find common ground with all patients and that means not trying to change beliefs but rather trying to support beliefs that help patients cope" (Koenig, 2008) I really liked this quote as it reminds as not to view religious beliefs as a whip of correction but as a source of strength and support. Too many times we view individuals with differing beliefs as battles to conquer. This view does not allow us to relate with the individual. Being able to relate I believe is an important trait of christian health care practitioners. It was through love and relationship that Jesus was able to administer help and healing while He was on earth and even now.
(Jacqlene Johnson)
The s
(Jacqlene Johnson)
The story about Dr. Paul Kliewer from this week's reading is a very heart warming story. For a person to know that he will not find a physical cure for his illness, but can still have the strength to seek mental, emotional and spiritual balance in life in such a challenging time of his life is admirable. He did not give up his beliefs. He continued having faith and thus his faith led him to lead an emotionally sound and spiritually connected life even during the worst phase of his life. This story is a motivation to all who give up on life  on trivial issues. It is an inspiration to each one of us to never give up and lead a life  that is meaningful by having faith in God.
Spirituality in patient care (Smart-White
Spirituality in patient care (Smart-White
“A particular disease is what everyone with a disease has in common, but the illness experience of each person is unique. Wellness requires dealing with the disease present in the body, the traditional task of medicine. Dis-ease is a lack of peace or comfort centered in the non-physical aspects of the person. Dis-ease relates to the emotional, spiritual, and relational. What is common to both of these models is a broadened concept of personhood” (Koenig, 2008).
Thoughts on spirituality in patient care (Mamata Mariyappa
Thoughts on spirituality in patient care (Mamata Mariyappa
Mindful practice requires a healthcare practitioner to look at the multidimensional aspects of a patient that involves physical, mental and spiritual well-being. As explained in this article, a particular disease causes varying illness in each individual with similar disease and this explains how wellness is multifaceted.  With real life examples in this article, it effectively explains the relevance of multidimensional approach. The video was also very informative on incorporating spirituality in our practice. I believe that we are more than just physical body and that our conscious mind has capability to send signals which can direct our body in healing process.

Favorite Quote from Kliew
Favorite Quote from Kliewer and Saultz (Chapter 1.) (Ashwin)
“If health is more than the absence of disease, and broader than the single dimension of suffering, then a healer’s task is larger than the detection and eradication of a specific disease state. It has do with quality of life, with the richness that is evoked when we truly ask and answer the question, ‘How are you?’
Thoughts on Spirituality and Holistic Patient Care (Mette Coleman)
Thoughts on Spirituality and Holistic Patient Care (Mette Coleman)
All of the readings and the video provided for this week have helped me think of spirituality as a universal and basic phenomenon. The definitions and research provided by Dr Harold Koenig in his video teaching on Spirituality in patient care were particularly enlightening. For some patients, spirituality is only a small piece of a larger puzzle, for others, spirituality creates a background and framework for a large piece of work (life). As physical therapist , we use and rely on our assessment to guide our treatment and intervention. Without proper assessment skills, we loose oversight, lack guidance, and direction. To effectively integrate spirituality into patient care we must be culturally and spiritually competent to properly assess and identify patient's spiritual needs. Our education
and training must reflect and promote spiritual and cultural competence. The Joint Commission's article on evaluating your spiritual assessment process recognizes the skill and training needed. It is essential that we as health care providers deepen our inner life, so we can effective relate and understand our patients.
"Sons of Buddha, when you see all the ill persons, you should offer them exactly the same as you offer the Buddha, with no difference."
(Buddhist Sutra)
Favorite Quote (Farhaad Shroff)
Favorite Quote (Farhaad Shroff)
"What then, is a person? ... Everybody knows what direction medical science has pursued for a hundred years now in order to answer that question. It has pursued the direction of materialism. And from that point of view man is compared with a machine, or more precisely, with an assemblage of machines.. man is a complex ensemble of different machines - digestive system, respiratory, nervous, urinary systems, etc"

This quote struck a cord inside me. We as physical therapists, tend to look at the patient as a condition or a disease. Very rarely do we consider the person as a whole. Some medical professionals only look at the medical side and not at the psychological or mental side. This results in just the condition being treated and not the person. Many times, there is more going on with a person than just their condition which is cannot be considered a successful treatment. If we take the entire patient into consideration, including their spiritual, mental, physical and emotional states into conditions, we can become a true healer.
Pt will benefit from skil
Pt will benefit from skilled PT to decrease pain and minimize her impairments to improve overall function. Thank you for this referral.
Favorite Quote from Kliewer and Saultz (Chapter 1.) (Ashwin)
Favorite Quote from Kliewer and Saultz (Chapter 1.) (Ashwin)
“If health is more than the absence of disease, and broader than the single dimension of suffering, then a healer’s task is larger than the detection and eradication of a specific disease state. It has do with quality of life, with the richness that is evoked when we truly ask and answer the question, ‘How are you?’ “.

This made me contemplate on our roles as healers and where we stand in this continuum of healing.

Ongoing research in quantum / energy medicine postulates that the human body is a happy colony of 50-100 trillion individual human cells, which are individually capable of living independently, as they are equipped with all that a normal human being is endowed with. 2

Research on cell intelligence has thrown up evidence that “Cells can 'see', i.e. they can map the directions of near-infrared light sources in their environment and direct their movements toward them. No such 'vision' is possible without a very sophisticated signal processing system ('cell brain') that is linked to the movement control of the cell”

If we stretch these theories to their very end, logic and science would refuse to provide answers and it would step in to the realms of consciousness and spirituality where jargon and linear mathematical models might fail to come up with an answer. As the physicist, Max Planck said: “I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness.”

If so, are we spiritual facilitators in healing? Something to ponder!

References:

1. http://www.basic.northwestern.edu/g-buehler/summary.htm

2. http://medind.nic.in/jac/t12/i4/jact12i4p274.pdf

Thoughts on Patient care and Healing (Ogwu Susan)
Thoughts on Patient care and Healing (Ogwu Susan)
Life or existence is all connected or relational. Caring for the whole person (different dimensions) can be effective by helping to keep the balance in this connection. The explanation given by Miller and Thoresen on health seems to address this connection more effectively - addressing suffering (e.g pain), coherence and function to improve quality of life (balance connection) and not just trying to cure or fix patients. A care giver’s task is to partner with patients to achieve this. To incorporate their beliefs, fears and hopes to therapeutic plans.

Kliewer & Saultz Ch.1: (Hina Shaikh)
Kliewer & Saultz Ch.1:         (Hina Shaikh)
Hazrat Inayat Khan, a sufi teacher and a muslim leader has excellently desribed a set of qualities needed for personhood in his book which is named as 'The Inner Life'. In this book he mentions that "the purpose of life is, to not only live in the body, but to live in the heart, to live in the soul." He also explains that to be able to see oneself merely as a body is nothing but to create limitations and to remain being unaware that another part of ourself exists which is much more higher and wonderful, exalted and more living. For the author, living as a multidimensional being is possible only when a person connects with God. This relationship buliding leads to empowerment of a person who becomes multifaceted through the inner connection with the divine power.
To me, this idea highlights the concept of giving importance to the soul and trying to connect with God and orient oneself to the multiple dimensions of well being.
SPIRITUALITY ASSESSMENT: Very often Spirituality is not very well understood, to be religious does not mean that a person is spiritual. Spirituality and religion are two independent facets with its own applicability.The spirituality makes an individual to know the purpose and meaning of life. Spirituality helps a person to experience hope, love, inner peace, comfort and support because of his belief system in religion. Spirituality can be found through communing with nature, music, meditation, worship, and so on. The inculcation of spiritual assessment in the overall patient’s assessment builds a hope within a patient of receiving HOPE, decreasing depression and helping patients to cope with difficult illness and improve the patient’s outcome. It’s very interesting to know that a study conducted reported that 40% patients were for and not against the physicians asking the patients about their religion and belief system and how this affect their medical decisions and coping ability in terminal illness.I believe that including spiritual assessment in the patient’s overall assessment will definitely bring HOPE in the medical care system.“Spirituality is not adopting more beliefs and assumptions but uncovering the best in you.”
SPIRITUALITY ASSESSMENT: Very often Spirituality is not very well understood, to be religious does not mean that a person is spiritual.  Spirituality and religion are two independent facets with its own applicability.The spirituality makes an individual to know the purpose and meaning of life. Spirituality helps a person to experience hope, love, inner peace, comfort and support because of his belief system in religion. Spirituality can be found through communing with nature, music, meditation, worship, and so on. The inculcation of spiritual assessment in the overall patient’s assessment builds a hope within a patient of receiving HOPE, decreasing depression and helping patients to cope with difficult illness and improve the patient’s outcome. It’s very interesting to know that a study conducted reported that 40% patients were for and not against the physicians asking the patients about their religion and belief system and how this affect their medical decisions and coping ability in terminal illness.I believe that including spiritual assessment in the patient’s overall assessment will definitely bring HOPE in the medical care system.“Spirituality is not adopting more beliefs and assumptions but uncovering the best in you.”

The Noetic Sciences and Spirituality
The Noetic Sciences and Spirituality
National Public Radio recently featured an interview with author and self-described 'psychonaut' Michael Pollan on the therapeutic applications of psychedelics. In this interview, Pollan recounted the experience of a terminally-ill man who used psychoactive drugs that resulted in a vision which brought him inner peace and acceptance of his inevitable death. Pollan also briefly talked about the place of psychedelics in the noetic sciences.

The noetic sciences are basically the application of scientific methods such as observation, experimentation, and replication to very subjective concepts, most importantly, human consciousness (Gross, 2018). This week’s reading reminded me of this interview because this idea of the noetic sciences seems to straddle two concepts: spirituality and humanism.

Harold Koenig argues that a more viable definition of spirituality would include associations to religion since historically, spirituality has been linked to religion (Koenig, 2008). This doesn’t accurately describe the noetic sciences as religious, spiritual experiences are not quantitative but the noetic science’s link to religion and spirituality is hard to ignore. Both delve into similar issues, such as morality and mortality. On the other hand, the noetic sciences seem to borrow from humanism which relies more on human effort and is more concerned with human interest (Koenig, 2008). It appears to be an intersection of religion and science.

I know people rely on many different things to make sense of the world and life. I rely on religion and spiritual experiences. The noetic sciences are another perspective people use. I’m curious to know, has anyone heard of this concept? What do you rely on to make sense of this world and your life?

References
Koenig, H.G. (2008). Medicine, religion, and health: Where science and spirituality meet. Conshohocken, PA: Templeton Press

Gross, T. (2018, May 15). Fresh Air [Radio series]. Philadelphia: WHYY

Kliewer and Saultz: "He focused on all the aspects of his personhood...(Gail)
Kliewer and Saultz: "He focused on all the aspects of his personhood...(Gail)
and sought enrichment and healing in each sphere." His focus on treating his whole person resulted in his remission. The remission allowed a Lazarus experience which gave him even more time to get it right with his family and community.  This is what gives us true hope and allowed Dr. Paul to pass on even more goodness and service  to his family and community.  You can tell he had a huge effect on others.  The community held a prayer vigil for him, when he eventually died the community celebrated his life well.  His statement that "in some ways these were some of the richest years of my life".  What a testament!
Finding Distinctions (Justin)
Finding Distinctions (Justin)
"Finding the proper distinctions between religion, spirituality, humanism, and other psychosocial concepts is especially important for research that wants to identify the exact causes of better health and medical outcomes." - Koenig.
Something beyond Universe
Something beyond Universe
"Something beyond Universe" ( Sarathy
"Something beyond Universe" ( Sarathy
Moored spirituality – Eastern   type:

Quote from reading passage of page (11-15)- “Something beyond universe”. The story about Mr. Harvey, He was diagnosed with chronic lung condition which requires lung transplant but due to his lack of social support and other medical reason he was not getting lung transplantation. Here the spirituality is missing greatly. He was not seen as whole person. He was only seen as physical body with lung condition. He has inner sole and spiritual things which were ignored completely here. As per Moored spirituality, there is a chance of improving his lung condition by practicing meditation, yoga which may improve his inner energy sources. By that he will have more energy to combat his lung condition and could lead better life in future. Though he doesn’t have lot of spiritual connection in his personal life due to his medical condition, he should be encouraged to attend spiritual activities like attending church, doing Meditation and yoga with pranayama (Breathing techniques which enables energy conservation) will give him better lung function than lung transplantation. Because we have a belief of superior force is present than mankind force as per this system, we have belief of something beyond the universal is there. As per this system, we cannot decide just by physical body, good thing will happen if you believe and practice, that will establish connection between sole and divine things, that will generate more inner peach and force to function better. My point here is treat the patient as a whole not just merely by physical conditions.

Patients’ religious/spiritual belief help to cope or manage illness. – Pugazhenthi Narasimhan (PUGI)This reminds me of a patient that I treated 5 years ago, who had severe discogenic issues. Her MRI showed severe L4/L5 disc prolapse. Every time, before I commence my treatment she would request me to hold her hand for 2 mins in silence. I assumed she was doing this to relax herself. I found out later that she was praying for me and herself. When I questioned her the purpose of including me in her prayer, she replied that God was healing her through me. According to her, I was God’s agent for her healing. This incident, I thought, reverberates well with the statement in Dr. Koenig video 1: “Patients’ religious/spiritual belief help to cope or manage illness”. This explains the positive association between health and spirituality. I believe that health care professionals, in future, can make significant impact on their outcome by Integrating patients’ belief system. This patient would fit well with Moored spirituality western type 1 according to Martin E Marty.This incident also fits well with another quote from Chapter 1(Kliewer and Saultz): “A particular disease is what everyone with that disease has in common, but the illness experience of each person is unique”. It was astonishing to witness a patient with acute painful condition, who was able to turn off her nociceptive signal from her injury at will, using her belief system.
Patients’ religious/spiritual belief help to cope or manage illness. – Pugazhenthi Narasimhan (PUGI)This reminds me of a patient that I treated 5 years ago, who had severe discogenic issues. Her MRI showed severe L4/L5 disc prolapse. Every time, before I commence my treatment she would request me to hold her hand for 2 mins in silence. I assumed she was doing this to relax herself. I found out later that she was praying for me and herself. When I questioned her the purpose of including me in her prayer, she replied that God was healing her through me. According to her, I was God’s agent for her healing.  This incident, I thought, reverberates well with the statement in Dr. Koenig video 1: “Patients’ religious/spiritual belief help to cope or manage illness”. This explains the positive association between health and spirituality. I believe that health care professionals, in future, can make significant impact on their outcome by Integrating patients’ belief system. This patient would fit well with Moored spirituality western type 1 according to Martin E Marty.This incident also fits well with another quote from Chapter 1(Kliewer and Saultz): “A particular disease is what everyone with that disease has in common, but the illness experience of each person is unique”. It was astonishing to witness a patient with acute painful condition, who was able to turn off her nociceptive signal from her injury at will, using her belief system.
Quote & Thought from Kliewer & Saultz [Hirving H.]
Quote & Thought from Kliewer & Saultz [Hirving H.]
"The religious affiliation of a person can be an excellent clue about a person's spiritual mode, but is not an infallible indicator." Viewing a patient from a three-dimensional and holistic perspective allows us to be better healthcare providers in addressing both "disease" and "illness". A person's spiritual state in life can dictate their resolve and resiliency to face, fight and overcome health adversity. However, the misconception is that because a person is of a religious affiliation and a habitual "church-goer", this patient has a strong spiritual foundation. It is becoming harder in mainstream Christianity to distinguish between what is deep and enlightening spiritual  living and that which is just vain religiosity.
Matthew 7:20-23

Personhood and Medicine (Andrij
Personhood and Medicine (Andrij
This week's readings remind me of a painting I saw at the Tate Britain a few years back: "The Doctor" by Sir Luke Fildes. It is highly likely that at this time, the doctor did not have the cure to this child's disease. But with his presence, and expression of genuine compassion and care, he undoubtedly became a facilitator in the healing process of that patient and patient's family.
Whole person approach to health care. (Hazel) Thought from reading:
Whole person approach to health care. (Hazel) Thought from reading:
By not addressing the spiritual needs of patients could have contributed to some of today's healthcare problems. Spiritual health for some is important as physical health. Spiritual needs have a deep effect on patients’ health outcomes and justify the importance of addressing these needs in health care setting.

Story about Dr. Paul in Kliewer & Saultz Ch 1 pg 20-21 (Jacqlene Johnson)
Story about Dr. Paul in Kliewer & Saultz Ch 1 pg 20-21 (Jacqlene Johnson)
The story about Dr. Paul Kliewer from this week's reading is a very heart warming story. For a person to know that he will not find a physical cure for his illness, but can still have the strength to seek mental, emotional and spiritual balance in life in such a challenging time of his life is admirable. He did not give up his beliefs. He continued having faith and thus his faith led him to lead an emotionally sound and spiritually connected life even during the worst phase of his life. This story is a motivation to all who give up on life  on trivial issues. It is an inspiration to each one of us to never give up and lead a life  that is meaningful by having faith in God.
Favorite Hospitality Quote from Kliewer & Saultz (Memory):
Favorite Hospitality Quote from Kliewer & Saultz (Memory):
“Hospitality means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom… it is not an educated intimidation with good books, good stories, and good works, but the liberation of fearful hearts… The paradox of hospitality is that it wants to create emptiness, not a fearful emptiness, but a friendly emptiness where strangers can enter and discover themselves as created free – free to sing their own song, speak their own languages, dance their own dances; free also to leave and follow their own vocations."

Health and Healing (Borko Rodic)
Health and Healing (Borko Rodic)
...we must learn to recognize the role played by physical, psychological, emotional, social, spiritual and environmental factors in contributing to the overall quality of our lives (Rapgay)
Thoughtful quote that resonated with me from Kliewer & Saultz reading (Alan Lam):
Thoughtful quote that resonated with me from Kliewer & Saultz reading (Alan Lam):
"I believe the overall goal of the clinician is to find common ground with all patients, and that means not trying to change beliefs, but rather trying to support beliefs that help patients cope."
My view on patient-centered care, supported in the reading material ( Kalai )
My view on patient-centered care, supported in the reading material ( Kalai )
Patient-centered care is the funnest term most of us use in the modern medicine practice, but given the least importance to the actual meaning of the word. Looks like we are still following the single dimensional view on our patients described by Laennec, a french clinician in early 1800s instead of the patient as a whole. I hear this "patient-centered care" in almost every meetings, conferences, but the truth is completely different.
Favorite Quote from Kliewer and Saultz reading (Mike Williams)
Favorite Quote from Kliewer and Saultz reading (Mike Williams)
"Some people find cure.  Some people find healing.  Some people find cure without healing.  Some people find healing without cure.  The ultimate goal of healthcare should not be cure alone, but the healing of the whole person."

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I was intrigued by the information in the readings especially as it related to cure and healing. My thought processes spun into action when the author made insight into the question of “How are you?” In the article” Healing, cure and the whole person by Kliewer and Saultz,’ which is the first and possibly most routine question we ask as physical therapist’s in some shape or form to every single patient we attempt to assist. The author pointed out that “since health is more than the absence of disease and broader than the single dimension of suffering, then a healer’s task is larger than the detection and eradication of a specific disease state; it has to do with the quality of life, with the richness that is invoked when we truly ask and answer that question.” The answer we get (or give to that question) can be used to provide valuable information on the multidimensional /multifaceted humans we with not just health (physical), but emotional, spiritual and social dimensions. This is how we can intervene and facilitate “healing when cure does not” exist. I have numerous experiences of patients/ clients that did not receive the cure they wanted, but had healing take place that made them one hundred percent better and optimistic about life.  ( Sophia Brown)

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"I cannot go to cure the body of my patient, but I forget my profession and call unto God for his soul" (Thomas Browne)

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The definitions that Dr. Koenig gave for the two are similar yet different. Having asked the question before to my co-worker if the two go hand in hand. She stated that you can be Spiritual but not religious. I suggest that you can be religious without being spiritual a form of legalism in some religious groups. You can do something’s correctly but do it out of obedience instead of faith. I believe the two are intertwi

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"People under stress usually adopt the worst health habits. They have poorer sleep patterns, poorer nutrition, exercise less and are more likely to abuse alcohol, smoke, and use illicit drugs."

Based on a survey of 1,000 LinkedIn members currently employed in the U.S., researchers found that people who earn between $51,000 and $75,000 generally feel the least stressed. By contrast, of those who make an income of $200,000 or more, nearly 70 percent said they feel stressed.

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Kelley and the intractable back pain.docx

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Brown Weston and Steward concept of ill health: disease and illness Disease on one hand is the an abstraction of the thing that is wrong with the body as a machine. Illness on the other hand is the patients personal experience of the sickness....wellness requires dealing with the disease...but it also requires working with the patients to address other aspects of the illness, their ideas, feelings and their expectations..Dis-ease is a lack of peace or comfort centered in the non-physicalaspects of the person Dis-ease relates to the emotional, spiritual, and relational..

I found this entire reading to allow me to refocus on what we do as Physical therapist. I appreciate how similar and how different all the idea's around health and spirituality are and how they all bring us to the idea of treating the whole person. Our patients are not just someone who has an injury or disability we must work out side of a shoulder or knee injury to assist our patient to recover fully. I appreciate the analogy of the machine. consisting of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual etc. It is important to consider not only the pain they have physically but how this physical pain can interfere with their relationships not only with family but also with themselves. it goes back to the beginning of the paper when the elderly woman mentions that to paraphrase Doctor It is not the pain that is the problem the problem is that I no longer know who I am. We as healthcare providers need to. We can not be everything to everyone but need to have the tools in place to assist in all aspects of our patients recovery even if it means assisting our patients with support groups, clergy, etc. we are a part of a team and with the help from our team and the patients desire to heal it can be done.  At the end of the article talking about the Dr. who was suffering from cancer.  He knew he could not cure the cancer however he healed his life by reuniting with family friends and loved ones and lived his final days. This really stood out to me as I recently watched my father die from cancer and knowing he was terminal he always lived life the the fullest and when he was strong enough to do something with my mother and I he did it and on the days when the pain was really bad he still enjoyed my visits. He was a man truly at peace with his life and comforted in the fact that he knew he raised three loving boys and had a close family. I really feel that although he failed physically all the other aspect of his life were very healthy.

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Carla,

It is true that the mind, body and spirit are all connected. As Dr. Koenig also clarified, individuals not only find spirituality through religion or a personal relationship, they may also find spirituality through connecting with nature, the arts, music, or while trying to find answers through science (Koenig, 2008).

Even an atheist who may be searching for answers can find our loving Savior if he or she searches with all their heart.

Reference

Koenig, Harold Medicine, Religion, and Health: Where Science and Spirituality Meet. West Conshohocken, PA.: Templeton Foundation Press, 2008

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I believe is an important trait of christian health care practitioners. It was through love and relationship that Jesus was able to administer help and healing while He was on earth and even now.

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"Doctor, you don't understand. I am not in pain that is a problem. The problem us that I no longer know who I am. "
This is very true when it comes to certain patients and for people in general. Sadly, we as health care professionals forget spirituality is an integral part of a person. We often get confuse spirituality with religion.
While spirituality is about determining common principles, values and ethics; religion focuses on salvation through one truth. Spirituality unites people, while religion divides people.
We should look out for our patients and their spiritual health. While multidisciplinary approach is getting famous for providing the best health care for the patients, spirituality still remains infamous or untouched.

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Quote (Juliette Bannister)“A staff member’s comfort in assessingspirituality may be linked to his orher own experiences with spirituality.For this reason, if your organization orcommunity has pastoral care resources,it may also be helpful to accessinformation from pastoral care professionals.Clinically trained, professionalpastoral care providers can offer insightand assistance in developing spiritualassessments for your organization” (JCAHO, 2015).Clinically trained chaplains are board-certified by three organizations within the United States: The National Association of Jewish Chaplains, the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, and the Association of Professional Chaplains. These organization ensure that certain competencies are met in the area of professional standards, common qualifications and competencies, professional ethics, and standards of practice for professional chaplains (Timberlake Membership Software, n.d.). ReferenceJoint Commission (2005). Evaluating your Spiritual Assessment Process. http://www.professionalchaplains.org/files/resources/reading_room/evaluating_your_spiritual_assessment_process.pdfTimberlake Membership Software. (n.d.). Professional Standards. Retrieved from http://www.professionalchaplains.org/content.asp?pl=198&contentid=198

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Quote (Juliette Bannister)“A staff member’s comfort in assessingspirituality may be linked to his orher own experiences with spirituality.For this reason, if your organization orcommunity has pastoral care resources,it may also be helpful to accessinformation from pastoral care professionals.Clinically trained, professionalpastoral care providers can offer insightand assistance in developing spiritualassessments for your organization” (JCAHO, 2015).Clinically trained chaplains are board-certified by three organizations within the United States: The National Association of Jewish Chaplains, the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, and the Association of Professional Chaplains. These organization ensure that certain competencies are met in the area of professional standards, common qualifications and competencies, professional ethics, and standards of practice for professional chaplains (Timberlake Membership Software, n.d.). ReferenceJoint Commission (2005). Evaluating your Spiritual Assessment Process. http://www.professionalchaplains.org/files/resources/reading_room/evaluating_your_spiritual_assessment_process.pdfTimberlake Membership Software. (n.d.). Professional Standards. Retrieved from http://www.professionalchaplains.org/content.asp?pl=198&contentid=198

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Hi, PugazhenthiI agree with you that patient’s spiritual belief help to cope with illness and this explains the positive association between health and spirituality and health care professionals will definitely make a significant impact on the positive outcome by integrating patient’s belief system. Kalpana

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Hi, PugazhenthiI agree with you that patient’s spiritual belief help to cope with illness and this explains the positive association between health and spirituality and health care professionals will definitely make a significant impact on the positive outcome by integrating patient’s belief system. Kalpana

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"I believe the overall goal of the clinician is to find common ground with all patients and that means not trying to change beliefs but rather trying to support beliefs that help patients cope" (Koenig, 2008) I really liked this quote as it reminds as not to view religious beliefs as a whip of correction but as a source of strength and support. Too many times we view individuals with differing beliefs as battles to conquer. This view does not allow us to relate with the individual. Being able to relate I believe is an important trait of christian health care practitioners. It was through love and relationship that Jesus was able to administer help and healing while He was on earth and even now.

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(Jacqlene Johnson)
The story about Dr. Paul Kliewer from this week's reading is a very heart warming story. For a person to know that he will not find a physical cure for his illness, but can still have the strength to seek mental, emotional and spiritual balance in life in such a challenging time of his life is admirable. He did not give up his beliefs. He continued having faith and thus his faith led him to lead an emotionally sound and spiritually connected life even during the worst phase of his life. This story is a motivation to all who give up on life  on trivial issues. It is an inspiration to each one of us to never give up and lead a life  that is meaningful by having faith in God.

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Spirituality in patient care (Smart-White

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Spirituality in patient care (Smart-White

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“A particular disease is what everyone with a disease has in common, but the illness experience of each person is unique. Wellness requires dealing with the disease present in the body, the traditional task of medicine. Dis-ease is a lack of peace or comfort centered in the non-physical aspects of the person. Dis-ease relates to the emotional, spiritual, and relational. What is common to both of these models is a broadened concept of personhood” (Koenig, 2008).

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Thoughts on spirituality in patient care (Mamata Mariyappa

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Thoughts on spirituality in patient care (Mamata Mariyappa

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Mindful practice requires a healthcare practitioner to look at the multidimensional aspects of a patient that involves physical, mental and spiritual well-being. As explained in this article, a particular disease causes varying illness in each individual with similar disease and this explains how wellness is multifaceted.  With real life examples in this article, it effectively explains the relevance of multidimensional approach. The video was also very informative on incorporating spirituality in our practice. I believe that we are more than just physical body and that our conscious mind has capability to send signals which can direct our body in healing process.

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Favorite Quote from Kliewer and Saultz (Chapter 1.) (Ashwin)
“If health is more than the absence of disease, and broader than the single dimension of suffering, then a healer’s task is larger than the detection and eradication of a specific disease state. It has do with quality of life, with the richness that is evoked when we truly ask and answer the question, ‘How are you?’ 

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Thoughts on Spirituality and Holistic Patient Care (Mette Coleman)

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Thoughts on Spirituality and Holistic Patient Care (Mette Coleman)

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All of the readings and the video provided for this week have helped me think of spirituality as a universal and basic phenomenon. The definitions and research provided by Dr Harold Koenig in his video teaching on Spirituality in patient care were particularly enlightening. For some patients, spirituality is only a small piece of a larger puzzle, for others, spirituality creates a background and framework for a large piece of work (life). As physical therapist , we use and rely on our assessment to guide our treatment and intervention. Without proper assessment skills, we loose oversight, lack guidance, and direction. To effectively integrate spirituality into patient care we must be culturally and spiritually competent to properly assess and identify patient's spiritual needs. Our education
and training must reflect and promote spiritual and cultural competence. The Joint Commission's article on evaluating your spiritual assessment process recognizes the skill and training needed. It is essential that we as health care providers deepen our inner life, so we can effective relate and understand our patients.
"Sons of Buddha, when you see all the ill persons, you should offer them exactly the same as you offer the Buddha, with no difference."
(Buddhist Sutra)

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"What then, is a person? ... Everybody knows what direction medical science has pursued for a hundred years now in order to answer that question. It has pursued the direction of materialism. And from that point of view man is compared with a machine, or more precisely, with an assemblage of machines.. man is a complex ensemble of different machines - digestive system, respiratory, nervous, urinary systems, etc"

This quote struck a cord inside me. We as physical therapists, tend to look at the patient as a condition or a disease. Very rarely do we consider the person as a whole. Some medical professionals only look at the medical side and not at the psychological or mental side. This results in just the condition being treated and not the person. Many times, there is more going on with a person than just their condition which is cannot be considered a successful treatment. If we take the entire patient into consideration, including their spiritual, mental, physical and emotional states into conditions, we can become a true healer.

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Pt will benefit from skilled PT to decrease pain and minimize her impairments to improve overall function. Thank you for this referral.

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Favorite Quote from Kliewer and Saultz (Chapter 1.) (Ashwin)

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Favorite Quote from Kliewer and Saultz (Chapter 1.) (Ashwin)

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“If health is more than the absence of disease, and broader than the single dimension of suffering, then a healer’s task is larger than the detection and eradication of a specific disease state. It has do with quality of life, with the richness that is evoked when we truly ask and answer the question, ‘How are you?’ “.

This made me contemplate on our roles as healers and where we stand in this continuum of healing.

Ongoing research in quantum / energy medicine postulates that the human body is a happy colony of 50-100 trillion individual human cells, which are individually capable of living independently, as they are equipped with all that a normal human being is endowed with. 2

Research on cell intelligence has thrown up evidence that “Cells can 'see', i.e. they can map the directions of near-infrared light sources in their environment and direct their movements toward them. No such 'vision' is possible without a very sophisticated signal processing system ('cell brain') that is linked to the movement control of the cell”

If we stretch these theories to their very end, logic and science would refuse to provide answers and it would step in to the realms of consciousness and spirituality where jargon and linear mathematical models might fail to come up with an answer. As the physicist, Max Planck said: “I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness.”

If so, are we spiritual facilitators in healing? Something to ponder!

References:

1. http://www.basic.northwestern.edu/g-buehler/summary.htm

2. http://medind.nic.in/jac/t12/i4/jact12i4p274.pdf

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Thoughts on Patient care and Healing (Ogwu Susan)

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Thoughts on Patient care and Healing (Ogwu Susan)

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Life or existence is all connected or relational. Caring for the whole person (different dimensions) can be effective by helping to keep the balance in this connection. The explanation given by Miller and Thoresen on health seems to address this connection more effectively - addressing suffering (e.g pain), coherence and function to improve quality of life (balance connection) and not just trying to cure or fix patients. A care giver’s task is to partner with patients to achieve this. To incorporate their beliefs, fears and hopes to therapeutic plans.

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Kliewer & Saultz Ch.1:         (Hina Shaikh)

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Kliewer & Saultz Ch.1:         (Hina Shaikh)

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Hazrat Inayat Khan, a sufi teacher and a muslim leader has excellently desribed a set of qualities needed for personhood in his book which is named as 'The Inner Life'. In this book he mentions that "the purpose of life is, to not only live in the body, but to live in the heart, to live in the soul." He also explains that to be able to see oneself merely as a body is nothing but to create limitations and to remain being unaware that another part of ourself exists which is much more higher and wonderful, exalted and more living. For the author, living as a multidimensional being is possible only when a person connects with God. This relationship buliding leads to empowerment of a person who becomes multifaceted through the inner connection with the divine power.
To me, this idea highlights the concept of giving importance to the soul and trying to connect with God and orient oneself to the multiple dimensions of well being.

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SPIRITUALITY ASSESSMENT: Very often Spirituality is not very well understood, to be religious does not mean that a person is spiritual.  Spirituality and religion are two independent facets with its own applicability.The spirituality makes an individual to know the purpose and meaning of life. Spirituality helps a person to experience hope, love, inner peace, comfort and support because of his belief system in religion. Spirituality can be found through communing with nature, music, meditation, worship, and so on. The inculcation of spiritual assessment in the overall patient’s assessment builds a hope within a patient of receiving HOPE, decreasing depression and helping patients to cope with difficult illness and improve the patient’s outcome. It’s very interesting to know that a study conducted reported that 40% patients were for and not against the physicians asking the patients about their religion and belief system and how this affect their medical decisions and coping ability in terminal illness.I believe that including spiritual assessment in the patient’s overall assessment will definitely bring HOPE in the medical care system.“Spirituality is not adopting more beliefs and assumptions but uncovering the best in you.” 

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SPIRITUALITY ASSESSMENT: Very often Spirituality is not very well understood, to be religious does not mean that a person is spiritual.  Spirituality and religion are two independent facets with its own applicability.The spirituality makes an individual to know the purpose and meaning of life. Spirituality helps a person to experience hope, love, inner peace, comfort and support because of his belief system in religion. Spirituality can be found through communing with nature, music, meditation, worship, and so on. The inculcation of spiritual assessment in the overall patient’s assessment builds a hope within a patient of receiving HOPE, decreasing depression and helping patients to cope with difficult illness and improve the patient’s outcome. It’s very interesting to know that a study conducted reported that 40% patients were for and not against the physicians asking the patients about their religion and belief system and how this affect their medical decisions and coping ability in terminal illness.I believe that including spiritual assessment in the patient’s overall assessment will definitely bring HOPE in the medical care system.“Spirituality is not adopting more beliefs and assumptions but uncovering the best in you.” 

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National Public Radio recently featured an interview with author and self-described 'psychonaut' Michael Pollan on the therapeutic applications of psychedelics. In this interview, Pollan recounted the experience of a terminally-ill man who used psychoactive drugs that resulted in a vision which brought him inner peace and acceptance of his inevitable death. Pollan also briefly talked about the place of psychedelics in the noetic sciences.

The noetic sciences are basically the application of scientific methods such as observation, experimentation, and replication to very subjective concepts, most importantly, human consciousness (Gross, 2018). This week’s reading reminded me of this interview because this idea of the noetic sciences seems to straddle two concepts: spirituality and humanism.

Harold Koenig argues that a more viable definition of spirituality would include associations to religion since historically, spirituality has been linked to religion (Koenig, 2008). This doesn’t accurately describe the noetic sciences as religious, spiritual experiences are not quantitative but the noetic science’s link to religion and spirituality is hard to ignore. Both delve into similar issues, such as morality and mortality. On the other hand, the noetic sciences seem to borrow from humanism which relies more on human effort and is more concerned with human interest (Koenig, 2008). It appears to be an intersection of religion and science.

I know people rely on many different things to make sense of the world and life. I rely on religion and spiritual experiences. The noetic sciences are another perspective people use. I’m curious to know, has anyone heard of this concept? What do you rely on to make sense of this world and your life?

References

Koenig, H.G. (2008). Medicine, religion, and health: Where science and spirituality meet. Conshohocken, PA: Templeton Press

Gross, T. (2018, May 15). Fresh Air [Radio series]. Philadelphia: WHYY

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Kliewer and Saultz: "He focused on all the aspects of his personhood...(Gail)

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Kliewer and Saultz: "He focused on all the aspects of his personhood...(Gail)

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and sought enrichment and healing in each sphere." His focus on treating his whole person resulted in his remission. The remission allowed a Lazarus experience which gave him even more time to get it right with his family and community.  This is what gives us true hope and allowed Dr. Paul to pass on even more goodness and service  to his family and community.  You can tell he had a huge effect on others.  The community held a prayer vigil for him, when he eventually died the community celebrated his life well.  His statement that "in some ways these were some of the richest years of my life".  What a testament!

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"Finding the proper distinctions between religion, spirituality, humanism, and other psychosocial concepts is especially important for research that wants to identify the exact causes of better health and medical outcomes." - Koenig.

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Moored spirituality – Eastern   type:

Quote from reading passage of page (11-15)- “Something beyond universe”. The story about Mr. Harvey, He was diagnosed with chronic lung condition which requires lung transplant but due to his lack of social support and other medical reason he was not getting lung transplantation. Here the spirituality is missing greatly. He was not seen as whole person. He was only seen as physical body with lung condition. He has inner sole and spiritual things which were ignored completely here. As per Moored spirituality, there is a chance of improving his lung condition by practicing meditation, yoga which may improve his inner energy sources. By that he will have more energy to combat his lung condition and could lead better life in future. Though he doesn’t have lot of spiritual connection in his personal life due to his medical condition, he should be encouraged to attend spiritual activities like attending church, doing Meditation and yoga with pranayama (Breathing techniques which enables energy conservation) will give him better lung function than lung transplantation. Because we have a belief of superior force is present than mankind force as per this system, we have belief of something beyond the universal is there. As per this system, we cannot decide just by physical body, good thing will happen if you believe and practice, that will establish connection between sole and divine things, that will generate more inner peach and force to function better. My point here is treat the patient as a whole not just merely by physical conditions.

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Patients’ religious/spiritual belief help to cope or manage illness. – Pugazhenthi Narasimhan (PUGI)This reminds me of a patient that I treated 5 years ago, who had severe discogenic issues. Her MRI showed severe L4/L5 disc prolapse. Every time, before I commence my treatment she would request me to hold her hand for 2 mins in silence. I assumed she was doing this to relax herself. I found out later that she was praying for me and herself. When I questioned her the purpose of including me in her prayer, she replied that God was healing her through me. According to her, I was God’s agent for her healing.  This incident, I thought, reverberates well with the statement in Dr. Koenig video 1: “Patients’ religious/spiritual belief help to cope or manage illness”. This explains the positive association between health and spirituality. I believe that health care professionals, in future, can make significant impact on their outcome by Integrating patients’ belief system. This patient would fit well with Moored spirituality western type 1 according to Martin E Marty.This incident also fits well with another quote from Chapter 1(Kliewer and Saultz): “A particular disease is what everyone with that disease has in common, but the illness experience of each person is unique”. It was astonishing to witness a patient with acute painful condition, who was able to turn off her nociceptive signal from her injury at will, using her belief system. 

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Patients’ religious/spiritual belief help to cope or manage illness. – Pugazhenthi Narasimhan (PUGI)This reminds me of a patient that I treated 5 years ago, who had severe discogenic issues. Her MRI showed severe L4/L5 disc prolapse. Every time, before I commence my treatment she would request me to hold her hand for 2 mins in silence. I assumed she was doing this to relax herself. I found out later that she was praying for me and herself. When I questioned her the purpose of including me in her prayer, she replied that God was healing her through me. According to her, I was God’s agent for her healing.  This incident, I thought, reverberates well with the statement in Dr. Koenig video 1: “Patients’ religious/spiritual belief help to cope or manage illness”. This explains the positive association between health and spirituality. I believe that health care professionals, in future, can make significant impact on their outcome by Integrating patients’ belief system. This patient would fit well with Moored spirituality western type 1 according to Martin E Marty.This incident also fits well with another quote from Chapter 1(Kliewer and Saultz): “A particular disease is what everyone with that disease has in common, but the illness experience of each person is unique”. It was astonishing to witness a patient with acute painful condition, who was able to turn off her nociceptive signal from her injury at will, using her belief system. 

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Quote & Thought from Kliewer & Saultz [Hirving H.]

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Quote & Thought from Kliewer & Saultz [Hirving H.]

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"The religious affiliation of a person can be an excellent clue about a person's spiritual mode, but is not an infallible indicator." Viewing a patient from a three-dimensional and holistic perspective allows us to be better healthcare providers in addressing both "disease" and "illness". A person's spiritual state in life can dictate their resolve and resiliency to face, fight and overcome health adversity. However, the misconception is that because a person is of a religious affiliation and a habitual "church-goer", this patient has a strong spiritual foundation. It is becoming harder in mainstream Christianity to distinguish between what is deep and enlightening spiritual  living and that which is just vain religiosity.
Matthew 7:20-23

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This week's readings remind me of a painting I saw at the Tate Britain a few years back: "The Doctor" by Sir Luke Fildes. It is highly likely that at this time, the doctor did not have the cure to this child's disease. But with his presence, and expression of genuine compassion and care, he undoubtedly became a facilitator in the healing process of that patient and patient's family.

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Whole person approach to health care. (Hazel) Thought from reading: 

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Whole person approach to health care. (Hazel) Thought from reading: 

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By not addressing the spiritual needs of patients could have contributed to some of today's healthcare problems. Spiritual health for some is important as physical health. Spiritual needs have a deep effect on patients’ health outcomes and justify the importance of addressing these needs in health care setting.

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Story about Dr. Paul in Kliewer & Saultz Ch 1 pg 20-21 (Jacqlene Johnson)

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Story about Dr. Paul in Kliewer & Saultz Ch 1 pg 20-21 (Jacqlene Johnson)

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The story about Dr. Paul Kliewer from this week's reading is a very heart warming story. For a person to know that he will not find a physical cure for his illness, but can still have the strength to seek mental, emotional and spiritual balance in life in such a challenging time of his life is admirable. He did not give up his beliefs. He continued having faith and thus his faith led him to lead an emotionally sound and spiritually connected life even during the worst phase of his life. This story is a motivation to all who give up on life on trivial issues. It is an inspiration to each one of us to never give up and lead a life that is meaningful by having faith in God.

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Favorite Hospitality Quote from Kliewer & Saultz (Memory):

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Favorite Hospitality Quote from Kliewer & Saultz (Memory):

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“Hospitality means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom… it is not an educated intimidation with good books, good stories, and good works, but the liberation of fearful hearts… The paradox of hospitality is that it wants to create emptiness, not a fearful emptiness, but a friendly emptiness where strangers can enter and discover themselves as created free – free to sing their own song, speak their own languages, dance their own dances; free also to leave and follow their own vocations."

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...we must learn to recognize the role played by physical, psychological, emotional, social, spiritual and environmental factors in contributing to the overall quality of our lives (Rapgay)

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Thoughtful quote that resonated with me from Kliewer & Saultz reading (Alan Lam):

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Thoughtful quote that resonated with me from Kliewer & Saultz reading (Alan Lam):

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"I believe the overall goal of the clinician is to find common ground with all patients, and that means not trying to change beliefs, but rather trying to support beliefs that help patients cope."

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My view on patient-centered care, supported in the reading material ( Kalai )

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My view on patient-centered care, supported in the reading material ( Kalai )

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Patient-centered care is the funnest term most of us use in the modern medicine practice, but given the least importance to the actual meaning of the word. Looks like we are still following the single dimensional view on our patients described by Laennec, a french clinician in early 1800s instead of the patient as a whole. I hear this "patient-centered care" in almost every meetings, conferences, but the truth is completely different.

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Favorite Quote from Kliewer and Saultz reading (Mike Williams)

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Favorite Quote from Kliewer and Saultz reading (Mike Williams)

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"Some people find cure. Some people find healing. Some people find cure without healing. Some people find healing without cure. The ultimate goal of healthcare should not be cure alone, but the healing of the whole person."