Spiritual Care & Multi-Faith Services

Spirituality as a dimension of care

Spirituality encompasses how we feel, think and perceive our life as human beings. Spiritual care practitioners consider the whole human experience when someone is experiencing the crisis of illness and related suffering.

For many people, feeling connected to one’s spiritual source at such a time of upheaval and finding meaning and purpose gives them comfort. Each person’s need may take different forms, such as a patient’s anxiety over an upcoming major surgery or someone coming to terms with the news of a life-altering condition. For patients and families in the most challenging circumstances, the crisis may involve anticipatory grief at the prospect of a life-ending illness and facing death itself.

Spiritual care is available to acute care patients, care home residents, families and staff, irrespective of religious or spiritual affiliation. Professional spiritual care practitioners hold a master’s degree that includes extensive academic and clinical education that equips them to work in multi-faith environments. The provincial government recognizes the profession, which has provided an official framework to guide its practice in health authority governed facilities.

Spiritual care practitioners visit most hospital units regularly and are available by referral to all units. Hospital staff may refer by telephone. Once the referral is made, the practitioner will follow up directly with the patient for their spiritual needs. 

Spiritual care practitioners are available by referral to any Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) location.

Spiritual care practitioners visit most hospital units regularly and are available by referral to all units. Hospital staff may refer by telephone. 

Learn more about the types of spiritual care services

Learn more about spiritual care professional education opportunities.

Doug Longstaffe

Regional Director, Spiritual Care and Multifaith Services
Vancouver General Hospital
Office: (604) 875-4643
Email: doug.longstaffe@vch.ca

Matthew Heyn

Profession Leader, Spiritual Care and Multifaith Services
Vancouver General Hospital
Office: (604) 875-4111 ext. 69139
Email: matthew.heyn2@vch.ca

Arun Chatterjee

Spiritual Health Education Leader and Certified CPE Supervisor, Spiritual Care and Multi-Faith Services
Vancouver General Hospital
Office: (604) 875-5050
Email: arun.chatterjee@vch.ca

Eileen

Administrative Assistant to Doug Longstaffe, Director
Spiritual Care and Multifaith Services
Vancouver General Hospital
Office: (604) 875-4151