36C26123Q0355.docx

Special Notice Special Notice

GENERAL INFORMATION

VA Sierra Pacific Network (NCO 21) VA Northern California HealthCare System 5342 Dudley Blvd, Bldg 209 McClellan CA 95652-2609

POINT OF CONTACT*

Bruce Lundvall Contract Specialist bruce.lundvall@va.gov

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

Service is to provide Catholic services to Geriatrics, Rehabilitation and Extended Care Service (GREC), Ambulatory Care Center (ACC), and Mental Health (MH) as described below. In order to meet the requirement to provide services, the Priest must have experience as a Chaplain in a medical/clinical setting. The VA Center for Aging (CFA) provides the office space and necessary internal support.

Geriatrics, Rehabilitation and Extended Care Service VA Pacific Islands Health Care System Honolulu, HI 96819

Statement of Work: Spiritual and Pastoral Care

A. Provide Catholic services to Geriatrics, Rehabilitation and Extended Care Service (GREC), Ambulatory Care Center (ACC), and Mental Health (MH) as described below. In order to meet the requirement to provide services, the Priest must have experience as a Chaplain in a medical/clinical setting. The VA Center for Aging (CFA) provides the office space and necessary internal support. The Chaplain will report the activities to the Lead VA Chaplain.

B. The services of a Catholic priest are requested for at least 6 hours per week but no more than 10 hours.

C. Any additional hours needed by the Chaplaincy must be approved by the Contracting officer or COR as designated.

D. Ecclesiastical Endorsement needed: The Roman Catholic Church endorses only ordained Priests. Ecclesiastical endorsements for Roman Catholics are issued only by the Archdiocese for the Military Service USA in Washington, DC. The endorsing official is Archbishop Timothy P Broglio, J.C.D. phone number 202-269-9100 ext. 21. Endorsements must be specifically for VA Chaplaincy. Endorsement for the Armed Forces on the military endorsement form (2088) is not acceptable for VA Chaplaincy. Endorsements for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, for the Association of Professional Chaplains or for other groups are not valid for VA.

E. Education: A Master of Divinity from an accredited institution or the equivalent. Equivalent education is a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution plus at least 70 graduate semester hours which included all of the following: at least 20 semester hours in pastoral ministry; 20 semester hours in any combination of theology, ethics, and philosophy of religion; 20 semester hours in the study of sacred writings, including the study of languages in which sacred writings are written; and 10 semester hours in religious history and/or world religions. (There may be flexibility in these requirements, but the final determination is made by the National VA Chaplaincy.)

F. Clinical Pastoral Education: In addition to the experience requirement described below, applicants must have completed at least 2 units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) [as defined by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), or the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC). Other training will be considered on a case-by-case basis for equivalency. 800 hours of supervised ministry in a formal training program which incorporated both ministry formation and pastoral care skills development is required for equivalency to two units of CPE.

Required:

The Chaplain's duties include but are not limited to:

•Participating in the total care program of the medical center with other healthcare and non-healthcare professionals and interpreting the purpose and mission of the hospital, as appropriate, to the religious and civic community.

•Providing Holy Communion and determine the need for and provide regular and special worship services (Mass).

•Performing appropriate Roman Catholic sacraments and rituals to meet the unique needs of Roman Catholic Veteran patients.

•Performing pastoral interview to ascertain patient's religious background, evaluate her/his religious need, and locates other chaplains and/or community clergy as necessary to meet specific faith group needs.

•Performing spiritual care assessments and interventions with patients in a variety of healthcare settings.

•Working with patients in a variety of encounter modalities such as individual and group encounters, group leader, group resource person, etc.

•Serving as spiritual counselor to patients and their families on ethical and moral matters such as offering spiritual and clinical consolation, guidance, counseling, and etc.

•Providing extensive and intensive pastoral counseling of family members during crisis and providing understanding of the treatment plan.

Conducting spiritual assessments to determine patient's spiritual resources and injuries.

Conveying assessment to other healthcare professionals to be considered in patient's total care.

•Providing pastoral care in a timely manner including initial visits to newly diagnosed palliative care Veteran patients, daily ward visitations, visits to seriously ill, intensive care unit, pre- and post-operative Veteran patients.

•Documenting patient care in accordance with VA policies.

•Being prepared conducting funeral services, bereavement support, officiate at bedside services, public prayer for special hospital functions and ceremonies; national crisis and celebration; and Thanksgiving.

Note: These Services may be provided at the VAPIHCS’ CFA, ACC, Windward, Akaka, 3B2 ward located in TAMC, and via tele-heath as needed.

1. Spiritual care will be provided for patients and families, especially visitation with those awaiting surgery, dying patients, bereaved families, families of patients in crises, persons with ethical concerns, and persons who are depressed, lonely, or struggling with the health center environment.

2. The Senior Chaplain (CLC Chaplain) and/or Hospice Chaplain will perform spiritual assessments on all incoming veterans within 48 hours of their admittance to the Community Living Center. This is to include care plan documentation in the veteran’s medical record. The Priest will receive referrals from these Chaplains.

3. Spiritual care will also be provided for those in Hospice care at the CFA’s Community Living Center (CLC) who request a priest.

a. After each death, a chaplain will be present, and accompany the deceased veteran from the building to the awaiting hearse/transport ensuring that the established procedures and honors are bestowed upon the veteran. If a priest is desired for last rites, the chaplaincy will ensure that the veteran receives this.

b. The priest, as do other chaplains, responds to emergencies or crises when pastoral care is appropriate. If called by the charge nurse, he/she will respond, and note the call in the monthly report.

c. When requested by the veteran, the priest provides counsel on medical ethical issues (such as advance directives) in the context of the patient’s particular faith background. Likewise, the Chaplain voices these ethical issues to the interdisciplinary team, or his/her Senior Chaplain in the CLC for further discussion with the interdisciplinary team.

4. As communication is key to understanding and addressing the specific needs of the veteran patient, the Chaplain must communicate effectively with persons of diverse race, culture, religious belief, nationality, and age. Likewise, he/she must communicate effectively with persons having various types and degrees of disability.

5. Emergency services for traumas, deaths, or emotional crises for patients, families, and friends needing spiritual consolation.

6. Consultation with the medical and nursing staff for coordinated care to patients.

7. On-call coverage for emergency situations, when applicable.

8. Provision of religious services, blessings, and other rites as requested by the facility.

9. Staff support to deal with issues of grief, anxiety, and personal concerns.

10. Coordination of Services and reporting to the Lead VA Chaplain of VAPIHCS.

11. As appropriate within the therapeutic environment, the Chaplains will be responsible for ensuring that each patient’s right to free exercise of religion is upheld and that patients are protected from proselytizing by staff, other patients, or visitors, regardless of faith group.

PDAT provided separately

NARA

Special Notice