Our Services

Pastoral Care Services is committed to providing care that respects the religious and spiritual values of all patients, family members and staff persons.

Our services include:

  • Spiritual support.
  • Support through experiences of pain, suffering & loss, or change of health status.
  • Coping with hospitalization and treatment.
  • Specific faith tradition options are offered.
  • Guidance in decision-making, treatment options, transition concerns, and end-of-life choices.
  • Assistance with advance directives, living wills, and health care power of attorney.
  • Notary public, ombudsman.

Chaplains provide and facilitate:

  • Seasonal worship services.
  • Memorial services.
  • Grief and support services, as requested.
  • Anatomical Gift Service/MUSC’s Body Donation Program.
  • Religious ministry including prayer, blessings, baptisms, communion, other religious rituals, and sacraments.

A chaplain is available and on-call in the hospital 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Chaplains seek to respect fully all religious and spiritual needs. Staff chaplains seek to meet needs as they arise, but there are also instances where clergy of specific religious affiliation can be called and accessed for patient needs.

Advance Directives

In South Carolina, if you are 18 years of age, you have the right to make your own health care decisions. This right includes the ability to decide what medical care or treatment to accept, reject or discontinue. The best way to make your wishes known is to discuss them with your family and your healthcare provider and execute an Advance Directive.

South Carolina law recognizes the following Advance Directives:

  • Living Will
  • Health Care Power of Attorney
  • Five Wishes

If you have questions about signing Advance Directives, talk with your doctor, minister, priest, rabbi or other health or religious professional. MUSC Health chaplains are available to help you with these healthcare decisions.

Other online resources: