one of a kind care - Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics

While Children’s
Mercy prides
itself on bright
and colorful
surroundings, cheery staff and
playrooms for the children, this
can also be a place filled with
anxiousness, confusion and
grieving.
As part of our efforts to make
the best of every visit, Children’s
Mercy has one of the largest
– and we believe most passionate
– staffs of chaplains anywhere.
The chaplains work in partnership
with children and families of
all faiths as they work through
sometimes difficult, painful or
even unthinkable events.
With a team of six full-time and
two part-time chaplains available
24 hours a day, seven days a
week, the patients and families
at Children’s Mercy are never
far away from the comforting
words or touch of a chaplain.
These individuals are trained like
any other member of the clergy,
and they have also completed a
special training in hospitals, like
a medical student’s residency
program. Two on the staff have
completed their doctorates.
The chaplains, using their
expertise to know when to talk,
when to listen and when to just
be there, bring peace to turmoil
and can help make sense out of a
senseless situation.
One of the most difficult times
for any family is when a death
is involved. The chaplains are
here, and in addition to helping
all those involved with guilt or
anger or grief, they also help
chaplaincy
the family make important
decisions regarding a number
of end-of-life issues, including
organ and tissue donation.
This is vitally important, as one
family’s tragedy can be another’s
saving grace. Children’s Mercy
last year received the federal
Collaborative 75 Percent Award
for achieving an organ donation
rate of greater than 75 percent
– meaning that whenever families
are approached about organ
donations, more than 75 percent
of the time the families said yes.
It takes a special touch to have
that kind of success. A spiritual
and emotional touch you’ll find at
Children’s Mercy.
In addition to supporting
parents -- helping them with
the emotional as well as the
policy-and-procedure steps -- the
chaplains are also available to
help hospital staff members,
who may struggle with some of
what they see or hear.