Tim Langdell

Hired by Kaiser Permanente to be its half- time dedicated Palliative Chaplain as part of Kaiser Los Angeles’ Palliative Care Team. The team consisted of a dedicated Palliative Physician, an RN, a Social Worker and me. We also had various physician residents and fellows rotating through our team. This position involved me working 20 hours each week at Kaiser, but potentially required me to be on call 24/7 at no extra pay. I was the dedicated palliative chaplain working on palliative consults in the hospital, supporting the Inpatient Palliative Team, patients, families and care staff during difficult decisions surrounding end of life situations and other instances where comfort care may be offered in addition to curative care. I was the second and only other staff chaplain at Kaiser Los Angeles, the other chaplain being full time and involved in the general pastoral care of the patients in the hospital.

My role included taking assessment of basic spiritual and emotional needs (acceptance, attention, love, safety, freedom, validation of feelings and touch), determining and carrying out appropriate pastoral interventions (healing, guiding, reconciling, nurturing, liberating, and celebrating), praying with patients and offering ritual where called upon to do so and where appropriate. My role further included charting my visits, and participating in family meetings as well as providing specific support for staff (such as “Tea for the Soul”).