For patients and staff seeking comfort during stressful, life-changing or transitional moments, the new multi-faith chapel has been a welcomed addition
By: Maya Devereaux
Lenox Hill Hospital has opened the doors to its new multi-faith chapel, located on the fourth floor and available at all times for those who may benefit from a quiet place for prayer, meditation or reflection. Renovated in just a few weeks’ time, the new space caters to the spiritual or religious needs of employees, as well as patients and their families.
“The chapel opening reflects our hospital’s desire to meet the evolving needs of our team members as well as our patients and visitors,” said Rabbi Simcha Silverman, director of spiritual services. “Amid the everyday chaos people face, this is a welcome place where everyone can feel safe on a spiritual level.”
The revamped space features new seating, fresh paint, frosted windows for privacy, a quote by Maya Angelou painted on the wall and built-in storage cabinets to hold religious items.
As part of the renovations, the chapel was selected as one of a few spaces in the hospital to house selected pieces from the Women Who Dared art collection, the largest privately held collection of female-created works of art, which recently went on display at Lenox Hill and other Northwell Health facilities.
Bill and Sandi Nicholson, the philanthropists behind the collection, chose three of their favorite paintings for the chapel—a floral arrangement by Chinese artist Fu Shangyuan, an abstract cityscape by French surrealist artist Alice Rahon and a colorful landscape by American painter Reva Jackman.
Supporting mental and emotional health
For employees, the chapel has been a welcome addition as it provides a quiet space to unwind and reflect during a busy shift.
“I can be going through a hectic day, but once I come here and I put my head down, I feel at peace. Then, when I go back to my unit, I feel energized,” said Bilal Jamaluddin, a telemetry technician who utilizes the space to pray.
At Lenox Hill, the spiritual services team helps cultivate a safe space for people of all faiths who seek hope, strength and comfort during stressful, life-changing or transitional moments. The team’s chaplains offer an array of services, which includes providing spiritual, religious or emotional guidance for those in crisis.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Lenox Hill’s five chaplains worked tirelessly to meet the spiritual needs of sick patients and hospital employees. When the hospital suspended all visitation based on New York State Department of Health guidance, they directed a majority of their efforts to speaking with COVID-19 patients’ families over the phone. In addition, the team expanded its coverage to seven days a week in order to dedicate more time to being there for frontline staff in need of guidance or support.
Chaplaincy services and the patient experience
In a year filled with uncertainty and fear, the growing number of those who seek out spiritual support has underscored the need for robust spiritual counseling programs in health systems across the country. While roughly 65 percent of hospitals provide spiritual care, Press Ganey research has shown that the single most unmet criterion, as it pertains to a patient’s overall satisfaction, is whether their emotional and spiritual needs are addressed. Those whose spiritual needs are not sufficiently met are more likely to experience lower levels of satisfaction with their quality of care.
At Northwell Health, chaplains are integral members of each hospital’s care team who draw upon a clinical method of professional training in order to connect and develop trust with patients and staff. Recognizing the need to care for the whole person and not just their physical illness or condition, Northwell’s chaplains help others search for meaning, process matters of life and death and engage in faith-based rituals.
By acting not only as spiritual counselors, but also as advocates for patients and family members, the health system’s network of chaplains plays a significant role in the care giving process, which can ultimately influence better decisions about care and lead to improved clinical outcomes.
