On the 6/7th June 2017, members of the NIHCA travelled to the beautiful historic city of Leuven just a short distance from Brussles to attend the launch of the European Research Institute for Chaplaincy in Healthcare (ERICH). The launch ran over two days.
On day one the agenda included:
The Need for European Research on Chaplaincy
prof. dr. Anne Vandenhoeck (Director, ERICH and Chair Academic Centre for Practical
Theology , KULeuven)
Patient Related Outcome Measure (PROMs) and Cost Effectiveness of Chaplaincy Research in Europe. prof dr Austyn Snowden (Lead Researcher ERICH and Edinburgh Napier University) and prof dr Ewan Kelly (Research Co-ordinator, ERICH)
Reflections on Practice II: Spiritual Care for Bereaved Parents (DVD)
Medical perspective on the value of spiritual care and chaplaincy in healthcare prof. dr. Christina Puchalski (Director George Washington Institute of Spirituality in Healthcare)
Examples of Research and Research Development in European Chaplaincy 1
From Ireland (Rev. Dr. Daniel Nuzum, Healthcare Chaplain & Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor, Cork University Hospital, Lecturer, College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork.Secretary, Chaplaincy Accreditation Board) and Czech Republic (Marek František Drábek, O.Praem)
Significance of chaplaincy research and research education in promoting best practice - prof. dr. George Fitchett (Director of Research in the Department of Religion, Health, and Human Values, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago)
Examples of Research and Research Development in European Chaplaincy 2
From Cyprus (Fr. Efstathios Savvides, Chaplain, "Arodaphnousa" Palliative Care Centre & Nicosia General Hospital, Church of Cyprus) and the Netherlands (Elsbeth Littooij, Healthcare chaplain/researcher, Amsterdam Rehabilitation Research Center Reade)
Generating ideas for research - Moderated by Hans Evers (Leiden University Medical Centre)
ERICH :The Way Forward – Collaboration, Innovation and Development.
Day two gave the oppertunity to attend an
ERICH Masterclass - Case Study Methods in Healthcare Chaplaincy Research.
Facilitated by
- Prof George Fitchett
Director of Research in the Department of Religion, Health, and Human Values, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago - Rev Dr Steve Nolan
Visiting Research Fellow, Univ of Winchester and Princess Alice Hospice, England.
Co-authors of Spiritual Care in Practice: Case Studies in Healthcare Chaplaincy published by Jessica Kingsley in 2016.
This was an opportunity for those already involved in such research and those academics, chaplains and PhD students who are interested in case study methods to come together to benefit from George and Steves’ (and each others’) expertise, experience and generosity of spirit in an interactive and dynamic way.
One of the main benefits was the oppertunity for Chaplains interested in reseach to share their stories and experiences, and forge links with others to share expertise.
And for the NIHCA members to see King Albert of Belgium, who was in Leuven.
Please do go to ERICH’s website www.chaplaincyresearch.eu to check out links to other organizations, bodies and resources which may support your interest and activity in chaplaincy research.
As prof. dr. Christina Puchalski (Director George Washington Institute of Spirituality in Healthcare (GWish) said in her presentation, "If we aren't providing excellent spiritual care, we aren't providing excellent patient care."
