From September 2024, Thomas Hart heads the Catholic clinic pastoral care in Bad Neustadt

From September 2024, Thomas Hart heads the Catholic clinic pastoral care in Bad Neustadt

Bad Neustadt-Thomas Hart, an experienced parish officer, will take over the management of the Catholic clinic pastoral care at the Rhön-Klinikum Campus Bad Neustadt from September 1, 2024. This announcement not only shows an important change within the institutional structure, but also throws a light on the central tasks and challenges that such a position brings.

At 53, hard brings with an impressive series of experiences. Born in Werneck, grew up in Schwanfeld, he went through numerous stations in his career. After completing his middle maturity, Hart decided to train as an educator, which he rounded off with a studies at the specialist academy for social pedagogy in Schweinfurt.

career and expertise

his professional journey started hard in a children's and youth home, where he worked as an educator from 1994 to 1997. This early experience in social work shaped his view and skills in dealing with different age groups. Then Hart deepened his knowledge in religious education and church educational work at the renowned Catholic University of Eichstätt.

After completing his studies, he was hard in several communities, where he filled out his role as a community assistant. In 2003 he took responsibility as a municipal officer, and from then on his expertise was used in different deans and communities, for example in Bad Königshofen and in the Dean's Office Rhön-Grabfeld. The year 2011 was a turning point in his career when he was used as a clinic pastor at the Rhön-Klinikum Campus.

The role of the clinic pastor

In clinic pastoral care, medical care combines with spiritual accompaniment. Hart's task will be to offer both patients and their relatives. The pastoral work in this context is of great importance, especially in difficult situations, as often occur in the hospital. It is about giving people emotional backing in times of uncertainty and grief and accompanying them in their spirituality.

From 2013 to 2017, Hart also took the role of the speaker for the professional group of local officers and was appointed to the 10th diocesan pastoral council. These experiences testify to his ability not only in individual settings, but also in larger teams and committees.

His previous activities will probably benefit in his new role. The combination of clinical work and pastoral care is a special challenge that he wants to tackle with his experience and commitment.

Hart's extensive horizon of experience promises to further develop and strengthen the Catholic clinic pastoral care at the Rhön Clinic in Bad Neustadt. He will formulate the strategies and goals for his new position in the coming months and will always keep an eye on the needs of patients and relatives.

With his appointment, a chapter is opened in the Bad Neustädter clinic pastoral care, and it remains exciting to pursue which impulses Thomas will set. His career shows how important it is to work with empathy and specialist knowledge in pastoral care - challenges that he will surely master with flying colors.

Bad Neustadt (Pow) Community officer Thomas Hart (53), clinic pastor at the Rhön-Klinikum Campus Bad Neustadt, becomes head of the Catholic clinic pastoral care there on September 1, 2024.

Hart was born in Werneck in 1970 and grew up in Schwanfeld. After the middle maturity, he completed an apprenticeship as an educator with studying at the specialist academy for social pedagogy in Schweinfurt. From 1994 to 1997 he worked as an educator in the children's and youth home Sankt Josef in Eltmann. He then studied religious education and church educational work at the Catholic University of Eichstätt. From 2001 he worked as a community assistant in Ebenhausen, Elingshausen and Oerlenbach. In 2003 it became hard and was then used with half a position in Bad Königshofen. With the other half, he worked as a youth minister in the Dean's Office Rhön-Grabfeld, from 2005 in Herbstadt and Breitensee, from 2006 in Kleinbardorf and Sulzfeld. In 2007 he became a municipal officer for Kleinbardorf, Sulzfeld, Großbardorf, Großeibstadt and Kleineibstadt. From 2010 he was also procurator for the Deanery Rhön-Grabfeld. Hart has been a clinic pastor at the Rhön-Klinikum Campus Bad Neustadt since 2011. At the same time, he was deployed in the parish community "Westlic Gravefield, Sulzfeld" until 2014. From 2013 to 2017 he was also a spokesman for the professional group of local officers and was appointed to the 10th diocesan pastoral council.

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The role of clinic pastoral care in Germany

Clinic pastoral care has undergone significant development in Germany in recent decades. This form of pastoral care focuses on the spiritual support of patients, relatives and the clinic staff and is firmly established in many hospitals and clinics. Pastor not only bring religious, but also psychological support in crisis situations. They are often the contact for people who are faced with serious illnesses, grief or existential questions.

An essential feature of clinic pastoral care is your inter -confessional approach, which enables patients to support patients regardless of their religious belonging. The pastors often work closely with the medical and nursing staff in order to offer the patient a holistic care. This cooperation ensures that the spiritual needs are taken into account in the context of holistic healing.

training and qualification of clinic pastoral organizers

The training of clinic pastors in Germany usually includes basic theological training, followed by special training in pastoral work and psychology. Many pastors have also gained practical experience in working with people in crisis situations, be it through voluntary activities or through internships in communities or social institutions.

Professional qualifications are necessary to meet the complex requirements of everyday clinical practice. These requirements not only include dealing with emotionally stressed people, but also the understanding of medical and ethical questions that often occur in a hospital context.

statistics on clinic pastoral care

A survey by the German Evangelical Church Association showed that over 70% of the patients have found information to have perceived a conversation with a pastor as positive and helpful. This underlines the importance of clinic pastoral care in modern health care. In addition, the need for pastoral support will continue to grow in medical facilities, since more and more people in clinical environments are looking for spiritual accompaniment.

In Germany, over 4,000 pastors are active in clinics, which reflects the broad recognition and importance of this profession within the health facilities.