Exploring the Theology of Social Justice in a Hospital or Clinical Environment

“I am committed to working with chaplains to explore the theology of social justice in a hospital or clinical environment. ”

Team Members/Contributors

Rockney C. Carter Zion Baptist Church Contact Me

About this pastoral study project

I want to take an opportunity to assess, explore and examine the theology of social justice in a hospital/clinical environment. This project will be conducted with chaplains in local hospitals as we delve into the realities of systemic racism, racial and gender disparities in providing equal access to quality healthcare within the Dayton Ohio region. The concerns commence at the health network level focusing on the commitment and mission of these networks and executives to provide non-discriminatory access to quality healthcare for the entirety of the test region, irrespective of race, gender or financial ability to pay. The concerns of administrators/educators require a next level review to ascertain any opportunities to improve already existing policies or doctrines, as well as possibly creating and implementing new ones. Another focus with the local hospital chaplains, are the impact of certain themes, ethics and the impact on hospital staff, including nurses and other essential personnel. We then will interview, through patient rounding, the actual patients that have been admitted to the hospital or clinical environment. The patients will represent a cross-section of society and be able to provide information as to any issues related to social justice that might be present. The participation and inclusion of the chaplains is critical to the success of this project, as it is the chaplains who have the clinical access to gather pertinent information to explore any social justice concerns. In this unprecedented time of challenge associated with covid-19, the question becomes are people receiving differing access to medical treatments based on the color of skin or ethnicity? If so, how can we then assess and improve ways to provide awareness of equity and equality issues in the way in which we render healthcare to the entirety of the Dayton community?