Healing Hospital: A Daring Paradigm, Essay Example

Healing Hospitals are a newly established paradigm in the Healthcare world.  The growing importance of focusing on not only the physical characteristics of illness, but also the spiritual aspects, which can help to promote health and happiness for the patients, has given rise to dramatic changes within the industry. These institutions, which promote the implementation of healthcare practices that are based in the establishment of interpersonal relationships, as well as the preservation of basic happiness, provide access to health services, the implementation of healing practices, and the establishment of research based principles in order to provide a better experience to their patients.  In providing a valuable experience, and overcoming the challenges of implementing their cause, these institutions are able to provide a faith-based healthcare system in order to promote the implementation of practices that affect patients on a personal level.

Components of Healing Hospitals

The most important components of Healing Hospitals are access, implementation, and research.  The importance of the component of access to a healing hospital is in the ability to provide a healthy and fulfilling atmosphere through access to things such as healthy food and medicine.  The importance of the implementation component is the focus on the actual health of the patient and not simply to treat their conditions.  Finally, by understanding and implementing the results of qualified research, hospitals can provide better care through a better understanding of the status of the field.

Relationship of Spirituality (Subheadings are examples only)

Access is important to spirituality in order to provide a strong foundation for spiritual inquiry.  Furthermore, ensuring a healthy lifestyle can help patients to attain higher levels of spiritual recognition.  Finally, by understanding better ways to care for patients through research, a strong understanding of their physical issues can help to promote spiritual growth.

Concepts Related to Healing Hospitals

One of the most important concepts of healing hospitals is intent.  These hospitals are often driven by a specific purpose, that is, to help the patients attain a healthy life.  This is demonstrated by the fact that “the majority of hospitals who do embark on these healing initiatives do so because they believe it is the “right thing to do”” (Motta 2).

Value of Healing Hospitals

The underlying value of a Healing Hospital lies in its ability to provide a positive healing experience for the patient.  This is achieved through their application of healing techniques that provide relief, whether physical or mental, to their patients.  Studies show that “Those who were in objectively poor health by physician report survived at a higher rate as long as they believed their own health to be good” (Motta 4).

Challenges and Barriers to Healing Hospitals

The main challenges and barriers to Healing Hospitals are both research based and logistical.  One of the major factors that prevent the implementation of these practices in many hospitals is a lack of knowledge on the part of the staff.  Often, they are trained in regards to the physical symptoms related to the patient’s sickness, but not necessarily in regards to healing practices that can help them.  This is important for not only the primary care provider to understand, but all members of the healthcare staff as well.  “The patient-doctor relationship is central, but relationships with other members of the care team also influence healing” (Hsu).  Issues such as funding are also important in this regard. In order to facilitate the ability of these care providers to establish more interpersonal practices, extra training would be required which would inevitably amount to higher care costs.  In this way, the largest barriers to be overcome by Healing Hospitals are the implementations of long term changes within their care structures. “Logistical factors most often pose barriers to healing, including the organization, delivery, and environment of medical care” ().

Biblical Aspects of a Healing Hospital

One of the most important Biblical Aspects of a Healing Hospital is their devotion to spirituality and its connection to healing.  Through the promotion of spirituality, the notions of Healing Hospitals are fundamentally based in the notions of brotherly care as outlined within the Bible.  The establishment of faith is important, in this way, to the healing process.  By providing an environment that is conducive to the development of Biblical ideologies, healthcare providers can promote a faith based relationship with the patients that underlies the importance of spirituality in the healing process.

Conclusion

The implementation of these programs, while difficult, can provide not only a more personal experience for the patient, but can also help to promote their health and well-being through the challenges that they face due to the difficulties of their illness.  In understanding the importance of providing access to these health services, a more effective healthcare system can be established.  In implementing these elements within the healthcare environment, it becomes evident that the greatest challenge lies in the establishment of resources and practical information regarding the patient’s issues.  By providing these services through the implementation of spiritual practices, the application of a more coherent healthcare strategy can effectively provide the patients with a more helpful experience.

References

Hsu, c., Phillips, W.R., Sherman, K.J., Hawkes, R.., Cherkin, D.C. (2008). Healing in Primary

Care: A Vision Shared by Patients, Physicians, Nurses, and Clinical Staff. Ann Fam Med, 2008, 6(4), 307–314. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2478495/.

Motta, M. (2011). Hospitals Creating Optimal Healing Environments. Samueli Institute, 1-38.