TeBeest Earns Palliative Care Chaplaincy Specialty Certificate
- July 27, 2015
The Reverend Gregg TeBeest, chaplain at Brookings Health System, recently completed education to earn the Palliative Care Chaplaincy Specialty certificate from The California State University Institute for Palliative Care and HealthCare Chaplaincy Network. Funds for the coursework were provided by hospice donations given to the Brookings Health System Foundation.
The nine-week course builds an essential knowledge base for professionals who deliver spiritual care to palliative care patients, those individuals with serious, chronic illness who receive care to relieve symptoms and stress. The curriculum focuses on providing patient-centered, family-focused spiritual care that respects diversity. It also covers ethical and legal issues in palliative care and evidence for the provision of spiritual care in the palliative care setting.
As the health system’s chaplain for the past five years, TeBeest provides free of charge spiritual care and pastoral counseling to hospital and hospice patients, The Neighborhoods at Brookview residents, and Brookings Health System employees. Services he provides include bereavement care for families, funerals and memorial services for patients and residents without faith support, and chapel services for residents at The Neighborhoods at Brookview.
TeBeest has completed his Clinical Pastoral Education from the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education, giving him the training to effectively minister to people of all faiths, cultural and spiritual backgrounds or those with no religious affiliation. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and Pastorology from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna, Minn.; and a master’s degree of Divinity from Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Minneapolis. He also has eight years of experience as a parish pastor.
Brookings Health System patients, residents, and family members who would like a pastoral care visit from TeBeest may place a request with care providers.
For more information on Brookings Health System and its full list of services, please visit www.brookingshealth.org.
About Brookings Health System Foundation
The mission of Brookings Health System Foundation is “Inspiring people to support Brookings Health System through philanthropy, recognizing the vital role of local healthcare in sustaining quality of life in our community.” Gifts to the Foundation support charity health care for those less fortunate, health and wellness education, facility, equipment, and technology upgrades and other needs as they arise at Brookings Health System. For more information about Brookings Health System Foundation or how you may contribute, please contact Foundation Officer Barb Anderson at (605) 696-8855 or foundation@brookingshealth.org.