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Towards a Vision for Compassionate Care in Digital Health. An international research project pioneering the integration of spiritual care with digital healthcare.
Discover the project
Healthcare chaplains and other spiritual caregivers play an important role in healthcare, ensuring that medical care addresses the mental, emotional, and existential needs of patients, relatives, and caregivers.
However, technology is increasingly important in medicine. From electronic health records to care management platforms and telehealth services, much of modern healthcare is delivered using digital means. Digital models of care are on the rise, and with the move towards outpatient and community care, this trend will likely continue.
This project, led by an international team of experts from the United States and Europe, is the first to propose a clear and practical vision for integrating spiritual care with digital health. Through a comprehensive strategy built on research, education, leadership and advocacy, it develops a competency framework for digital spiritual care, trains chaplains to become proficient in providing care in digital settings, and empowers them to become leaders in compassionate and person-centred digital healthcare.
Spiritual care must keep pace with the digital transformation of healthcare. The gap between medical realities and professional practice is widening.
From electronic health records to telehealth services, digital models of care are on the rise. With the move towards outpatient and community care, this trend will continue to accelerate.
The gap between medical realities and the professional practice of chaplains is widening, seriously putting into question the future viability of spiritual care in its present form.
If spiritual care is to remain an integral aspect of technologically driven healthcare, a new generation of spiritual caregivers is urgently needed to innovate and pioneer whole-person care.
Four key deliverables form the backbone of this project, each contributing to a comprehensive strategy for digital spiritual care.
Development of a digital care competency model and evaluation instrument that will serve as an evidence-based and standard component of spiritual care education and professional development.
Development and delivery of train-the-trainer education materials to train a cohort of chaplains who will train other chaplains and interprofessional colleagues to advance spiritually integrated, compassionate digital health care.
Creation of the strategic plan and research agenda on the role of spiritual care and chaplaincy for compassionate digital health, in consultation with the Leadership and Technology Advisory Groups.
Establishment of collaborations and networks for innovation, knowledge exchange, and dissemination of project outputs through international symposia, conferences, and a community of practice.
This project aims to catalyze lasting transformation in how spiritual care is delivered, taught, and integrated within digital health systems.
Spiritual care professionals will be expert practitioners and trusted leaders in the areas of digital spiritual care and compassionate whole-person health.
Professional chaplains trained as trainers will pursue their goals for implementing the competency model, with an active cohort of trainers training chaplains and healthcare providers globally.
A compelling strategic vision regarding the practice and research of digital spiritual care will significantly advance the integration of spiritual care in current healthcare settings and expand it into new service areas through digital means.
Evidence-based practices and models will be disseminated through international networks of leaders, practitioners, and researchers, and a global community of practice.
A three-stage approach to developing and communicating a strategic agenda for advancing digital spiritual care.
The first version of the programmatic paper will be developed and prepared for an interprofessional and community-based consultative process, setting the foundation for stakeholder engagement.
Transforming Chaplaincy's outpatient research network and the Telechaplaincy Community of Practice will provide feedback. The LAG and TAG will collaborate to finalize the programmatic paper.
Developments will be communicated through conferences, seminars, newsletters, social media and other platforms. The Transforming Chaplaincy network will amplify the strategic agenda.
An international team of experts spanning the United States and Europe, bringing together expertise in chaplaincy, theology, digital health, and research.
Two advisory groups guide the project: the Leadership Advisory Group (LAG) for strategic direction, and the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for digital health expertise.
Provides high-level strategic guidance, counsel, and oversight to ensure the project's activities remain aligned with emerging clinical realities and the evolving needs of professional spiritual care communities.
Provides specialized technical expertise regarding the infrastructure, software, and workflows of digital healthcare to ensure spiritual care interventions are technically feasible and user-friendly.
From December 2025 to November 2028, the project will unfold across three focused phases of research, education, and dissemination.