Spiritual and Emotional Support for All
Kaleida Health Pastoral Care departments are dedicated to helping individuals attain the greatest possible degree of emotional and spiritual wellness. As part of the healthcare team, trained chaplains have committed themselves to being present to any person, regardless of age, gender, race, creed or national origin.
This commitment is expressed through visits, sacramental administration, counseling and response to any other needs as they arise. Any person who feels that Pastoral Care Services would be of assistance is encouraged to request a pastoral visit.
Care for Every Faith
Ministry Provided Across Kaleida Health
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Ministry in times of crisis
Support for patients and families in crisis that reflects their faith traditions, on a twenty four hour basis.
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Care that supports satisfaction
Crisis ministry that increases patient, family and employee satisfaction.
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Support for staff and employees
Effective ministry to staff that builds a sense of belonging and commitment.
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Ethics and quality improvement
Quality improvement programs, clinical research and help resolving ethical dilemmas.
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Outreach to community clergy
Coordination with community clergy, providing patient information with permission.
Services Provided
Pastoral Care Services are provided for all patients, their family, friends and staff at the hospital. The chaplain is directed by the needs of the individual and can facilitate the relationship between patients, other hospital departments and their own faith community.
How Our Chaplains Help
Supportive Visitation and Counseling
Supportive visitation, pastoral counseling and crisis intervention for patients, families and staff.
Prayer and Spiritual Resources
Prayer, along with spiritual literature such as bibles and other resources to support reflection.
Grief and Bereavement Support
Grief and bereavement support relating to issues of loss for patients and their loved ones.
Sacramental and Ritual Needs
Specific sacramental or ritual needs, contacting the appropriate faith community to facilitate any request.
Connection to Your Community
Communication with area clergy and congregations, and information on local churches, temples and more.
Decisions and Advance Directives
Assistance with decision making, ethics consultations and Advance Directive (Health Care Proxy).
Pastoral Care by Location
Buffalo General Medical Center
Director: Rev. Richard H. Augustyn
Phone: (716) 859-2864
On-Call Chaplain: (716) 629-6368
Catholic Mass, Muslim prayer and interfaith bedside visits are offered, with a Jewish rabbi and other faith representatives on call.
Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital
Phone: (716) 568-3777
On-Call: please call the switchboard
Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo
Supervisor: Rev. Thomas Baldwin
Phone: (716) 323-1542
A chaplain is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Requesting Care and Finding Us
Chaplains visit inpatients Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you would like a visit, please call the hospital main line at (716) 373-2600 and the switchboard attendant will arrange a visit for you. Chaplains are also available 24 hours a day to respond to the urgent spiritual and emotional needs of patients and families.
Each hospital offers an interdenominational chapel and meditation space designed to provide patients and family members a quiet place for prayer and reflection. Inspirational materials, booklets and prayer leaflets are available in the chapel.
Pastoral care chaplains act as liaisons between patients and their own clergy. With your permission, our staff will notify your pastor or priest of your admission and request a visit for you.
Request a pastoral visit
If you or a loved one would welcome spiritual or emotional support, our chaplains are here for you, on an interfaith basis, day or night.