Pastoral and Spiritual Care Services

The Mission of St. Francis Medical Center is to serve the health care and social needs of the whole person-body, mind and spirit.

The Department of Spiritual Care Services offers emotional and spiritual care to all patients regardless of religious affiliation. Chaplains provide compassionate support to you and your loved ones during times of crisis, illness or loss. They can assist you with pastoral counseling and/or referring you to appropriate resources within the hospital during your stay.
The Spiritual Care team is available daily between the hours of 6:00 am and 6:30 pm. In cases of an emergency, please contact the hospital operator and request to have the Chaplain on duty paged.

Spiritual Care

The philosophy of the Daughters of Charity is not only to meet the physical and emotional needs of our patients, but the spiritual as well. Each patient receives a visit by a hospital chaplain within 24 hours of admission. The Spiritual Care Team is composed of nine chaplains, Board Certified by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. Chaplains at St. Francis Medical Center also address quality and end-of-life issues from the patient’s own values and spiritual perspective, as well as providing information on the Advance HealthCare Directive.

Advance Health Care Directive

As a patient, you have the right to accept or refuse medical care. If you ever become unable to choose or communicate your healthcare wishes due to an injury or illness, a document called an Advance Health Care Directive can protect this right by appointing a person of your choice to make healthcare decisions for you. Upon admission you will be asked if you have an Advance Health Care Directive. If provided, it will become a part of your permanent medical record. If you do not have the document with you, you will be encouraged to have a copy of document brought to the hospital as soon as possible. If you have a question about the Advance Health Care Directive, or you would like more information and a copy of an Advance Health Care Directive, please contact Spiritual Care Services at 310-900-8515.

St. Francis Medical Center may decline to comply with any instruction(s) or decision(s) that require medically ineffective health care or healthcare contrary to generally accepted health care standards (Probate Code Section 4735). Should this occur, St. Francis Medical Center will make every effort to transfer you to a facility that can honor your request. Until a transfer is arranged, care will be provided for you.

To download an Advance Directive for the State of California in English or Spanish, click here.

Bioethics Issues

There may be a time when you are called on to make a difficult health care decision for yourself or for a loved one. This can often be a confusing, frightening, or painful task. Increased understanding among patients, families and health care providers may lessen your fears and help relieve the burden that such difficult decisions may cause.

St. Francis Medical Center has a Bioethics Committee to help you in such circumstances. The Bioethics Committee is a panel of physicians, spiritual care, administrative and lay people, who are prepared to listen and respond to you. They can help get all the facts you need to make a decision. They have been educated in medical ethics and may offer insight and suggestions, but they will not make your decision for you. St. Francis Medical Center abides by the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.

Bioethics consultations are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day by leaving a message / request with the Dir. of Spiritual Care and Ethics at 310-900-8514. For an immediate consultation, please contact the hospital operator and have the hospital chaplain on duty paged.

 If you have a Bioethics concern, please contact the Director of Spiritual Care and Ethics at 310-900-8514.

Chapel

Our chapel is open daily for meditation and prayer. You, your family and loved ones are also welcome to visit the chapel and also attend mass that is offered daily. All Chapel Services are televised on Channel 3 (in-house) for patient viewing.

The Chapel is located across from the Main Lobby in the Patient Tower.
Masses are held Monday through Friday at 11:30 AM.

• Spanish language Mass is held on Wednesday at 11:30 AM. 
• Vigil Masses are held each Saturday at 4:00 PM.
• Sunday Masses are held at 9:00 AM.
• Rosary is held daily at 11:00 AM.

Chapel Virtual Tour