Spiritual Care and Music Therapy
Spiritual Care and Music Therapy is a department with two distinct disciplines---Chaplains and Music Therapists---each working from their areas of expertise for the same purpose, namely, top-quality care for our NorthShore patients and their loved ones.
Spiritual Care:
As part of its effort to provide excellent patient care, NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) recognizes that every patient must receive comprehensive care. Clinically trained, board-certified Chaplains from the Spiritual Care and Music Therapy Department provide support to meet the spiritual, emotional and cultural needs of each patient as it relates to his or her present medical condition. The goal of Spiritual Care services at Evanston Hospital is to engage the spiritual dimension of people, their beliefs, faith, culture, values, and religious practices for healing, well-being and growth.
Spiritual Support from the Chaplain
When faced with times of stress, illness and crisis, people often draw closer to their spirituality. Support from the Chaplain can play a major role in the healing process and can help patients and their loved ones through challenges associated with illness or injury. NorthShore’s Chaplains offer support that is respectful of each patient’s spirituality, religious beliefs, privacy and dignity.
There are many reasons that a patient or family member might seek spiritual care from the Chaplain during illness or hospitalization:
- Unexpected or discouraging diagnosis
- Death and dying
- Grief
- Questioning the meaning and purpose of an illness or injury
- Moral or ethical questions
You may want to consult a Chaplain:
- When you’ve received medical news that may mean significant changes in your life
- When you are facing a difficult decision
- When you feel scared about being in the hospital
- When someone close to you has died
- When your family is upset
- When you want to receive sacraments, religious literature or scriptures
- When you are faced with crises in your life and need help in sorting out value and meaning
Chapel
Those looking for a quiet place to pray or meditate may visit the Chapel at Evanston Hospital, Room 1225 on the first floor. The Chapel is always open. Special services are held in the Chapel throughout the year. Jummah (Muslim) prayers are said in the Chapel every Friday from 1 – 2 p.m.
In-Room Religious Observances
The Spiritual Care and Music Therapy Department offers a variety of services for patients and their loved ones, including Roman Catholic Communion and electric Sabbath Candles. A Chaplain is always available to respond to concerns of decision-making, faith, hope, reconciliation and/or prayer. At a patient’s request, the Chaplain will inform the patient’s minister, priest, rabbi or spiritual leader of his/her hospitalization.
To reach a Chaplain or to request Spiritual Care services at Evanston Hospital:
Please call (847)-570-2330. Spiritual Care services from the Chaplain are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
Music Therapy:
NorthShore University HealthSystem includes Music Therapy as one means of ensuring comprehensive, holistic patient care. The Music Therapy program is part of the Spiritual Care and Music Therapy Department. Music Therapy involves the therapeutic, evidence-based use of music by a board-certified music therapist to enhance and/or maintain physical, social, emotional and/or cognitive functioning for persons of all ages. Music Therapy services are available to all NorthShore University HealthSystem patients and family members/loved ones at no charge.
What is Music Therapy?
Music Therapy is an evidence-based allied health profession that involves the therapeutic use of music interventions to address the physical, psychosocial, cognitive, and social/emotional needs of individuals of all ages. Music is used therapeutically to elicit positive responses to all areas of functioning. Because Music Therapy is a powerful and non-invasive medium, unique outcomes are possible.
Why Music?
- Music is a whole-brain process
- Music is a familiar, non-threatening medium for most people
- Music is easily adaptable for all ages and functioning levels
Why Music Therapy?
Music Therapy can be used to:
- Promote wellness
- Assist in management of pain and anxiety
- Increase feelings of relaxation
- Provide procedural support
- Promote positive changes in mood
- Decrease isolation and promote normalization of hospital environment
- Encourage expression of feelings
- Promote physical rehabilitation
- Enhance coping mechanisms
Music Therapists
NorthShore’s clinically trained, board-certified Music Therapists use music interventions to address the physical, psychosocial, cognitive and social/emotional needs of the individual. They assess emotional well-being, physical health, and social functioning through musical responses; they design individual music experiences, using live and recorded music, based on the patient’s needs and preferences.
Examples of Music Therapy Interventions include:
- Live-music listening
- Music making/instrument playing
- Singing
- Music-assisted relaxation
- Songwriting/lyric analysis
- Creative arts and music
- Purposeful music selection
To reach a Music Therapist or to request Music Therapy services at Evanston Hospital:
Please call the Music Therapy Referral Line at Evanston Hospital, (847)-570-1523.
Mail and Flowers
A volunteer will deliver mail and flowers to patient rooms and mail any outgoing letters for them. You may buy flowers, stationary, stamps, and cards in the Warm Wishes Gift Shop at 847.570.2717 or at our online gift shop. Flowers are not permitted in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit or the Intensive Care Unit.
Newspapers and Books
Complimentary copies of the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times are distributed Monday through Friday by a volunteer who brings the newspapers to patients who request them. Newspapers also are available weekdays in vending machines located in the Main Entrance Atrium. You can reach Volunteer Services at 847.570.2710, from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For weekends, please contact the nurse’s station the night before to receive a newspaper. In addition, volunteers are available Monday through Friday to come to patient rooms with books and other reading materials.