Our Mission Field
The Victim Chaplain Association provides services in Kern County, California, on location at disaster sites and at Kern Medical hospital.
When caring for victims of a natural disaster, or other mass casualty event, our chaplains deploy near the disaster site, but behind safety lines set by first responders. They serve at emergency shelters, community resource centers, and other designated emergency disaster relief locations. Deployed chaplains report to the Incident Commander designated by the governmental emergency management team, or his/her deputies. They are trained to leave physical rescues to the appropriate first-responders, and offer their services once a victim has been moved to a secure location.
When serving at Kern Medical, chaplains work under the supervision of the nurse leader in the unit where they are present, and the Director of Clinical Care. Their services may be requested by a patient, family member, or hospital staff member. They serve patients, their families and the hospital staff in the Emergency Room, and the various inpatient departments of the hospital. Some chaplains do weekly rounds with the palliative care team. As chaplains, they are not expected or permitted to perform medical services. They are subject to the same staff and patient safety protocols and privacy protection policies (HIPAA) as other employees.