New App Offers Virtual Chaplaincy Services for Patients and Healthcare Staff
A new digital platform developed by the nonprofit Spiritual Care Association (SCA) is aiming to close a gap in patient care by offering virtual chaplaincy services to healthcare institutions without on-site chaplains.
The platform, called Chappy, allows patients, caregivers, and healthcare staff to connect with board-certified chaplains through a secure app, accessible via QR code or phone. These chaplains are trained to provide spiritual and emotional support through phone or video calls in sessions lasting 20 to 30 minutes.
Available 365 days a year, Chappy is designed to be easily integrated into a range of healthcare settings, including hospitals, assisted living facilities, dialysis centers, chemotherapy units, and in-home care services. According to the organization, the platform requires minimal staff involvement and includes optional access for patients from home.
Eric J. Hall, president and CEO of SCA, said the initiative was inspired in part by lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, when virtual care became more prevalent and proved effective.
"Technology today is readily available and usable at all ages," Hall said. "Now the Spiritual Care Association has made virtual spiritual care available for everyone in health care settings."
While chaplaincy services are widely recognized for improving patient well-being and quality of life, many healthcare providers do not offer them due to budget constraints or staffing shortages. The American Medical Association has acknowledged the role of spirituality in health, and national guidelines for palliative care include spiritual support among core service areas.
Chappy aims to help healthcare organizations meet the holistic needs of their patients—body, mind, and spirit—by offering a flexible and scalable approach to spiritual care. Institutions receive non-identifiable monthly reports summarizing usage and services provided.
More information is available at www.meetchappy.org.