Our role is to meet the spiritual needs of patients and their families in a time of crisis. We fulfill this role by listening, clarifying, sharing, and supporting, in addition to providing for their religious observances. In order to ensure the maximum success of the medical treatment being administered, our ministry of compassion encourages patients to freely express their fears and anxieties and offers spiritual reassurance and support. The Pastoral Care Department of Hackensack University Medical Center provides the highest caliber of spiritual comfort to the sick, the dying and their families. It provides this level of care through a staff of skilled, experienced, and caring people who carry out the department’s mission in a variety of creative ways. The Pastoral Care Department communicates regularly with physicians and nurses, offering them our most professional, religious, and supportive services. This ongoing dialogue enables us to provide the highest standards of spiritual comfort to all patients at Hackensack University Medical Center. In addition, the Pastoral Care Department offers a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program that provides outstanding training and experience for chaplain interns. CPE enables student interns to learn from actual field experiences in an acute-care facility, reflective writing, and an in-depth evaluation of their pastoral care experience. For more information about the program, read the brochure by clicking here: Clinical Pastoral Education In addition, other department goals include: To develop educational programs for medical center personnel. To develop personal contacts with local clergy. To provide an environment in the chapel that is conducive for prayer by members of all denominations. To provide support, comfort, and prayer in staff crisis. To offer an orientation period for volunteers. To provide a dignified, accepting atmosphere that is welcoming to all.