For many patients, spiritual comfort in times of illness, injury or the death of a loved one can be an important part of the healing process. The unexpected fears and overwhelming threat of an uncertain future can often send patients and their families in search of spiritual as well as emotional and physical healing. That’s why we provide all patients access to our chapel and pastoral support services.

Nellie Hoffecker Interfaith Memorial Chapel

The Nellie Hoffecker Interfaith Memorial Chapel, located just outside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), is always open for private meditation / prayer or the lighting of a votive candle.

Pastoral Care

At Grand View Health, compassionate spiritual and emotional support is available to patients and their families during times of illness. Care is provided by a full-time chaplain, clergy and lay volunteer chaplains, as well as chaplain interns through the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program of Penn Foundation.

Chaplains function together along with physicians, nurses and other health care staff, as part of a team dedicated to holistic patient care. A chaplain visits daily with most newly admitted patients to listen empathetically and offer spiritual support, comfort, prayer, and a devotional booklet. With permission, and when religious affiliation is indicated, one of our chaplains will notify a patient’s clergyperson of their admission to the hospital.

Pastoral Care is interfaith in approach and is sensitive to the diversity of religious expression. Requests for a visit by a chaplain can be directed through any hospital staff member. Area pastors or authorized church lay representatives with a proper Grand View Health identification badge may visit their congregation members at any time. Contact our chaplain at 215-453-4970 or spaek@gvh.org.

Ethics Program

You or your family may need to make challenging medical decisions related to your care here at Grand View Health. In addition to our Pastoral Care Department and Patient Representative, the Grand View Ethics Program may be appropriate to you and your family members in this regard.

Organ & Tissue Donation

Anyone 18 years old or older and of sound mind may fill out a Uniform Donor Card to legally donate organs and tissue upon death in accordance with the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act. Grand View Health supports this law and urges you and your family to consider organ and tissue donation. For more information on becoming a donor, call the Gift of Life at 800-KIDNEY-1 or call our chaplain at 215-453-4970.