The Spiritual Care & Chaplaincy Department is available to provide spiritual and emotional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sometimes the chaplain will be coming from outside the medical center to assist. In the evening or overnight hours, there could be a wait time of up to one hour. Your own clergyperson, faith community leader or spiritual counselor is always welcome.

To speak with a chaplain, arrange a visit or to request a spiritual caregiver of a particular faith tradition, please ask a member of your or your loved one's medical team to have a hospital chaplain visit you.

Chaplains provide many services including:

• A steadfast presence, including 24-hour availability, and regular rounds in critical care units and the emergency departments. Spiritual care providers respond to requests, referrals and emergency situations.
• Emotional and spiritual support through deep listening, respect without judgment and a commitment to enhance the patient, loved one or family member, staff member and faculty’s own spiritual coping resource.
• Partnership through the spiritual journey of grief and loss.
• Debriefings after difficult events.
• Partnership in prayer.
• Comfort in times of distress and despair.
• Religious resources and rituals.
• Provision of faith specific resources including numerous faith traditions such as Christian (Protestant and Roman Catholic), Jewish, Sufi, Muslim, Jehovah’s Witness and Buddhist, provide sacraments and rituals. Often requested, in addition to prayers, are Baptisms, Blessings, Naming Ceremonies, Holy Communion, Anointing of the Sick, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
• Assistance with insight into religious and cultural diversity.
• Support during organ donation process.
• Education about spiritual issues for medical center faculty, health care professionals, community leadership, faith groups and local clergy.

The Johns Hopkins Bayview chapel is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The chapel is located on the main level of Medical Center.