Benoît, Yves
(2000).
The Quality/Performance of Pastoral Care : Clientele Satisfaction and
Efficiency of the Hospital Stay, in T.C. Pauchant and Associates, Ethics
and spirituality at work. Under revision in the U.S.
In this chapter, Yves Benoît, general director of a major health
care center, draws a lesson from the integration of pastoral care in the
health network.
The recent reform that shook up Quebec's health care system - and which
is akin to other such reforms around the world - led the network itself
to adopt a systemic approach, a key theme of this book. The various stakeholders
of the system - doctors, nurses, directors, various governing bodies,
professionals, union leaders, clients, representatives of the families
of patients and so forth - started a dialogue on a key issue, that is,
which values to favor. These values, namely respect, equity, immutability,
transparency, responsibility, coherence and partnership, are similar to
the ones proposed in the context of 'healthy management' (see the introduction)
or those advocated by the cooperative system (see chapter 5).
In the midst of all these changes, pastoral care was asked to de-compartmentalise itself and to become part of multidisciplinary teams whose tasks are centred on the needs of clients. This had two major effects: first, a growing acknowledgement of the importance of pastoral care for health, while distinguishing between the spiritual and the religious needs of patients; second, the broadening of the very notion of care, from care of the body to care of the heart and of the mind. Finally, Mr. Benoît refers to numerous scientific studies which suggest that religious belief and spiritual practice has a positive effect on physical and mental health. This includes, for instance, a reduction of cardio-vascular diseases, of depression, of states of anxiety and a reduction of the length of convalescence. This has been confirmed by medical doctors from reputed research centres such as the Harvard Medical School, Duke University or Yale University. In conclusion, Mr. Benoit wishes to continue to encourage the ethical and spiritual contributions of pastoral care, for administrators and workers in the health network.
