Faith Based Health Care

Although a growing body of literature supports the benefits of a holistic approach to health and the inclusion of spirituality in patient care. The elimination of health disparities among this nations racial and ethnic groups is an exigent goal that the health care community cannot accomplish in isolation. Since many of the determinants of wellbeing span the boundaries of health care and medicine eliminating health disparities call for new and non-traditional partnerships across diverse sectors of the community (Goode and Harrison, 2000).

One may ask what faith-based health care is. A faith- based health care is any group/organizations created by or for a religious or spiritual group including, but not limited to, individual places of groups

Historically, faith-based health care have served as an important gateway to services and care-giving for those living in poverty and in social exclusion. They have taken strong leadership roles in communities and provided job training, housing, economic development, educational support meals, and spiritual support to those in need. Just as health centers have addressed the gaps in health care, faith-based organization have filled the gap in supportive services commensurate with the World Health Organization’s broad definition of health including physical, mental, spiritual and social

Faith-based organizations are thus important partners in bringing about changes in behaviors to enhance health in individuals and the community at large. Such institutions and their leaders can teach by example (serving healthy food at events) and can use what some religious refer to as the “power of the pulpit” to work towards behavioral change. By connecting health issues to the values and priorities of a community, a faith-based organization can help health care organizations develop effective approaches to improve patient self-management of disease that reflect religious, spiritual or moral values.

Benefit people derived from faith-based health care services are as follows;

 Improved health outcomes because services are delivered in contexts that build trust leading to consistent follow-up.

 Better connections with community support networks to provide treatment and sustain healthy lifestyle changes.

 Inclusion of spirituality in beliefs and practices related to health and