Department of Spiritual Health and Education provides chaplaincy ministry at Tampa General Hospital. Through our accredited programs of ministry training, we combine ministry and education, serving both the patients of the hospital and ministers seeking to become more effective servants of the people.
Chaplaincy
Chaplains representing many faiths serve as members of the healthcare team in several capacities including 24-hour on-call ministry within the hospital. They provide support to patients, families and staff experiencing medical, emotional, and spiritual crises.
Our chaplains are clinically trained, ordained clergy who understand the special needs of hospital patients, their families and hospital staff members. They provide intensive pastoral care, respond to referrals, trauma and all crisis calls, participate in interdisciplinary patient care rounds and physician/family conferences, conduct patient religious assessments, provide end-of-life pastoral care to patients and their families and conduct religious services.
Chaplains serve as members of hospital committees, providing expertise in ethics, spiritual care and education. All permanent members of the Department of Spiritual Health and Education are board-certified chaplains or are eligible for membership in the Association of Professional Chaplains or National Association of Catholic Chaplains.
Chaplain Visits
A hospital chaplain is available to visit inpatients 24 hours a day. Patients can call Pastoral Care at 813-844-7063 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For urgent requests after 5 p.m. or on weekends, the hospital operator can page the on-call chaplain. The operator can be reached at 813-844-7000.
The Chapel
The Chapel provides a place for patients, families, and staff of all faiths to come for quiet prayer and reflection. The Chapel is located on the first floor, near the West Pavilion visitor elevators, and all are welcome to use this space. Friday prayers for Muslims are held in the chapel at 1:30 p.m.
Education
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is theological and professional education for ministry. Within the CPE program, theological students, ordained clergy, members of religious orders, and qualified laypersons minister under supervision to people with a variety of pastoral needs. CPE proposes to study "the living human document" of both self and other, toward the ends of more authentic and effective ministry.
The Clinical Pastoral Education program at Tampa General is accredited by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) and offered as a full-time summer program, part-time extended programs and a yearlong residency program and a program in supervisory education. Visit Clinical Pastoral Education