Advocate Condell looking to meet spiritual needs

Hoping to improve the hospital's long-standing tradition of ministry, Advocate Condell Medical Center has hired a director of spiritual care.

Rev. Fred Rajan has been named vice president for mission and spiritual care at the Libertyville hospital. He's held the same post at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital near Barrington since 2006, and will remain in that position, splitting time between the two facilities.

"Before becoming part of the Advocate family, Condell did very little to meet the spiritual needs of our patients and surrounding community," said spokeswoman Chris Vicik. "We now have someone who will fulfill these functions."

Rajan will oversee a staff of three chaplains and plans to implement several programs, including music therapy and a Hispanic outreach in the coming months.

Rajan said he is committed to serving not only the folks in the hospital, but the larger community as well.

He's organized Condell's first Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration set for Nov. 19. Rajan also held an H1N1 summit meeting for local faith leaders last week.

"We need to remember we are not working in isolation," Rajan said. "We are just one part of a bigger community."

Recognizing the county's growing diversity, the chaplains are trained to work with people of all faiths, he said.

Rajan, 60, comes to Condell with resume thick with pastoral and administrative experience, Vicik said. The Cary man has earned three master's degrees, including a master's of theology in pastoral care from Washington-based Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary.

Rev. Robert A. Davis, senior pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Libertyville and a member of the Advocate Condell governing council, said the hospital takes a holistic approach to patient care.

"Studies show that clinical outcomes are improved when a person's physical and spiritual needs are addressed," Davis said. "When people are in anxious or scary times, they are often forced to deal with not only clinical but spiritual issues as well. The chaplains are there to meet those needs."

Rajan said the chaplains minister to the patients and the 2,100 hospital staff. "They are there 24/7 for grief and loss counseling," he said. "People often forget that when people die in the hospital that has an effect on the nurses, doctors and anyone else who knew them."

The bulk of his time is spent in administration, but Rajan said he tries to keep the spiritual connection to the staff. "My role is a minister of this hospital," he said. "This is my congregation."