PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The new Interfaith Prayer and Meditation Space at Temple University Hospital is now open.
It’s a place where staff and visitors alike can heal, pray and reflect as they deal with difficult situations.
“We recognize that a lot of what we do is healing the body, but there's a lot more that goes into healing a patient in terms of their spiritual care or their emotional well-being,” said Dr. Daniel del Portal, senior vice president and chief clinical officer at Temple University Health.
The project began several years ago when there was an appeal for renovations to patient and family spaces.
Del Portal says when you walk in, it feels like you are no longer in the hospital.
“It's a beautiful space. It's got stained glass, it's got a lot of light that comes in. It's a quiet space, although it's centrally located right off of our main lobby space, but when you walk in, it's quiet inside.”
The space has bibles, Qurans, prayer books, rosaries, devotional materials and Shabbat candles in the Patient Experience Office nearby.
Del Portal says the space symbolizes Temple Health’s commitment to holistic healing and the importance of addressing the spiritual needs of patients, families and staff.
“I think it's a good example of Temple, you know, meeting the needs of the community — and honestly, our staff as well, who are going to be, I think, largely using this space pretty regularly.”
Del Portal says he hopes this will help people find comfort and healing.
The Interfaith Prayer and Meditation Space is located on the ground floor of the hospital and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.