Let me begin with what we do know. In 1988, the ratio of full time pastoral care equivalents was 1 pastoral professional to every 51 patients. In 1997, that ratio had changed to 1 pastoral care professional to every 64 beds. In a mental health or psychiatric program which utilizes a pastoral professional, the ratio is one full time pastoral professional to every 34 patients. Responses to the same question in previous years are also listed.
Availability often drives staffing requirements.
How does an organization's Clinical Pastoral Education program impact the staffing needs of the spiritual care department. Does pastoral care measure its interventions by the number of patients visited or by the amount of time spent with each patient. If its presence is significant and if pastoral professionals are utilized in this service, it is likely that the staffing ratio would decrease. In an increasing number of spiritual care departments, volunteers make the initial visit and preliminary assessment of patient needs. How does the use of such people impact the workload of the professional staff.