Beyond the 12 steps: Integrating chaplaincy services into Veteran Affairs substance use specialty care. 2019

Brian S W Earl, and Anne Klee, and James D Cooke, and Ellen L Edens
VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Background: Interprofessional training is increasing in focus within medical education. Although substance use treatment has long been interprofessional in nature, chaplaincy has been relatively absent in outpatient settings. Since 2013, the Veterans Health Administration has supported an Interprofessional Advanced Fellowship in Addiction Treatment (IAFAT), with 7 sites nationally recruiting across multiple health care disciplines. In the fall of 2017, Veteran Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System (VACHS) became the first such fellowship to expand its recruitment to include chaplain fellows. We seek to share rationale for recruiting chaplains, current curriculum and curricular needs, and the potential roles of chaplains in outpatient addiction treatment. Methods: Collaborating with the office of chaplaincy education, we describe the process of chaplain recruitment, incorporation into a new treatment setting, and supervision, and we report on the feasibility of this innovative training initiative. Results: During the first year, the chaplain fellow has developed and maintained a new clinical service in an outpatient substance use disorder (SUD) specialty care setting, delivering over 150 hours of group and individual treatment to veterans. He has provided 12 presentations to staff on the role of a chaplain and other related topics, as well as written an article on the topic of addiction for a clergy audience. Anecdotally, staff satisfaction has been high, and the current chaplain is helping to recruit for his replacement. Limitations: As a feasibility pilot project, there is no outcome and very limited quantitative data. Conclusions: Chaplain fellows can be successfully incorporated into outpatient SUD clinics with a noticeable degree of fellow, staff, and patient satisfaction.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010327 Pastoral Care Counseling or comfort given by ministers, priests, rabbis, etc., to those in need of help with emotional problems or stressful situations. Psychology, Pastoral,Pastoral Psychology,Care, Pastoral
D010348 Patient Care Team Care of patients by a multidisciplinary team usually organized under the leadership of a physician; each member of the team has specific responsibilities and the whole team contributes to the care of the patient. Health Care Team,Interdisciplinary Health Team,Medical Care Team,Multidisciplinary Care Team,Multidisciplinary Health Team,Healthcare Team,Care Team, Health,Care Team, Medical,Care Team, Multidisciplinary,Care Team, Patient,Care Teams, Health,Care Teams, Patient,Health Care Teams,Health Team, Interdisciplinary,Health Team, Multidisciplinary,Healthcare Teams,Interdisciplinary Health Teams,Medical Care Teams,Multidisciplinary Care Teams,Multidisciplinary Health Teams,Patient Care Teams,Team, Health Care,Team, Healthcare,Team, Interdisciplinary Health,Team, Medical Care,Team, Multidisciplinary Care,Team, Multidisciplinary Health,Team, Patient Care,Teams, Interdisciplinary Health
D002977 Clergy Persons ordained for religious duties, who serve as leaders and perform religious services. Chaplains,Clerics,Deacons,Imams,Ministers,Pastors,Priests,Rabbis,Chaplain,Cleric,Deacon,Imam,Minister,Pastor,Priest,Rabbi
D005240 Feasibility Studies Studies to determine the advantages or disadvantages, practicability, or capability of accomplishing a projected plan, study, or project. Feasibility Study,Studies, Feasibility,Study, Feasibility
D000070516 Intersectoral Collaboration Cooperative actions and ventures among health and health-related groups and organizations intended to improve health outcomes. Intersectoral Cooperation,Collaboration, Intersectoral,Collaborations, Intersectoral,Cooperation, Intersectoral,Intersectoral Collaborations
D000437 Alcoholism A primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic. (Morse & Flavin for the Joint Commission of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction Medicine to Study the Definition and Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism: in JAMA 1992;268:1012-4) Alcohol Abuse,Alcoholic Intoxication, Chronic,Ethanol Abuse,Alcohol Addiction,Alcohol Dependence,Alcohol Use Disorder,Abuse, Alcohol,Abuse, Ethanol,Addiction, Alcohol,Alcohol Use Disorders,Chronic Alcoholic Intoxication,Dependence, Alcohol,Intoxication, Chronic Alcoholic,Use Disorders, Alcohol
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D014493 United States Department of Veterans Affairs A cabinet department in the Executive Branch of the United States Government concerned with overall planning, promoting, and administering programs pertaining to VETERANS. It was established March 15, 1989 as a Cabinet-level position. United States Veterans Administration,Veterans Administration (U.S.),Veterans Affairs (U.S.),United States Veterans' Administration,United States. Dept. of Veterans Affairs,Veterans Administration
D017060 Patient Satisfaction The degree to which the individual regards the health care service or product or the manner in which it is delivered by the provider as useful, effective, or beneficial. Satisfaction, Patient
D019966 Substance-Related Disorders Disorders related to substance use or abuse. Chemical Dependence,Drug Abuse,Drug Addiction,Drug Dependence,Drug Habituation,Drug Use Disorder,Drug Use Disorders,Organic Mental Disorders, Substance-Induced,Substance Abuse,Substance Dependence,Substance Related Disorder,Substance Use,Substance Use Disorder,Substance Use Disorders,Prescription Drug Abuse,Substance Addiction,Abuse, Drug,Abuse, Prescription Drug,Abuse, Substance,Addiction, Drug,Addiction, Substance,Chemical Dependences,Dependence, Chemical,Dependence, Drug,Dependence, Substance,Dependences, Chemical,Disorder, Drug Use,Disorder, Substance Related,Disorder, Substance Use,Disorders, Substance Related,Drug Abuse, Prescription,Habituation, Drug,Organic Mental Disorders, Substance Induced,Related Disorder, Substance,Related Disorders, Substance,Substance Abuses,Substance Uses,Use, Substance

Related Publications

Brian S W Earl, and Anne Klee, and James D Cooke, and Ellen L Edens
September 2021, International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England),
Brian S W Earl, and Anne Klee, and James D Cooke, and Ellen L Edens
May 2008, Behavioral healthcare,
Brian S W Earl, and Anne Klee, and James D Cooke, and Ellen L Edens
October 2012, Current psychiatry reports,
Brian S W Earl, and Anne Klee, and James D Cooke, and Ellen L Edens
June 2007, Journal of substance abuse treatment,
Brian S W Earl, and Anne Klee, and James D Cooke, and Ellen L Edens
January 2012, Journal of psychoactive drugs,
Brian S W Earl, and Anne Klee, and James D Cooke, and Ellen L Edens
January 2018, Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM,
Brian S W Earl, and Anne Klee, and James D Cooke, and Ellen L Edens
February 2023, The lancet. HIV,
Brian S W Earl, and Anne Klee, and James D Cooke, and Ellen L Edens
September 2012, Journal of substance abuse treatment,
Brian S W Earl, and Anne Klee, and James D Cooke, and Ellen L Edens
April 2012, Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology,
Brian S W Earl, and Anne Klee, and James D Cooke, and Ellen L Edens
January 2012, Nurse educator,
Copied contents to your clipboard!