Improving the quality of spiritual care
Christina Puchalski, M.D., M.S., F.A.P.C., Betty Ferrell, Ph.D., M.A., F.A.A.N., F.P.C.N.,
Rose Virani, R.N.C., M.H.A., O.C.N., F.P.C.N., Shirley Otis-Green, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., A.C.S.W., O.S.W.-C.,
Pamela Baird, A.A., Janet Bull, M.A., Harvey Chochinov, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.P.C.,
George Handzo, M.Div., B.C.C., M.A., Holly Nelson-Becker, M.S.W., Ph.D.,
Maryjo Prince-Paul, Ph.D., A.P.R.N., A.C.H.P.N.,
Karen Pugliese, M.A., B.C.C., and Daniel Sulmasy, O.F.M., M.D., Ph.D.
Abstract
A Consensus Conference sponsored by the Archstone Foundation of Long Beach, California, was held February
17–18, 2009, in Pasadena, California. The Conference was based on the belief that spiritual care is a fundamental
component of quality palliative care. This document and the conference recommendations it includes builds
upon prior literature, the National Consensus Project Guidelines, and the National Quality Forum Preferred
Practices and Conference proceedings.