Spirituality In Patient Care: Why How When & What

by Harold G. Koenig

This book is intended as a guide for practicing physicians, medical students, and residents to help identify and address the spiritual needs of patients. Those who will benefit most will be physicians who wish to know how to integrate spirituality into clinical practice in an effective and sensitive manner. Other professionals, such as nurses and chaplains, may use this book as they interact with doctors, other health professionals, and hospital administrators.

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2002

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Harold George Koenig

Reviews

[Josh Sheak · Rating 4 out of 5]

The majority of the book consisted of careful, deliberate, and conventional advice on how to approach spirituality in medicine. There were a few gems though. For example, it is a bad idea to invite clergy into a room where a patient is victim to a serious trauma. It sends a historic message that all has been done for the patient and it is now time for the patient to make peace with whatever faith system they hold. The comments on patient-led prayer were helpful, but still had a conventional feeling.