Anyone who has ever been a patient in a hospital will tell you - emotional and mental well-being contribute to physical recovery.
Physicians and staff at Castle Medical Center believe in a concept called "sacred work."
"One of the best descriptions of sacred work is the mother test. Would I want my mother receiving this care. If I would treat everyone like I would treat my mother then that's a good definition, a good way to define, doing sacred work," said Castle Medical Center Chaplain David Rasmussen.
Rasmussen emphasizes that "sacred work" applies to virtually everyone on the staff - from doctors in charge of departments to janitors.
"No one passes a call, no one passes a patient who needs something. Sacred work really emphasizes that reaching out to people and doing just a little bit more than they might expect," he says.
There is an element of the Golden Rule in sacred work - although, the golden rule pre-dates biblical times. Still, sacred is the operative term.
"Sacred work is treating people with respect, treating people like I would want to be treated if the roles were reversed. If I were the one laying in the bed and someone said, what can I do for you - and okay, we're able to do that," Rasmussen said.
In each institution, people have particular obligations. But in a hospital setting, Rasmussen says, there are times - opportunities, if you will - when people can step outside their assigned roles.
"But everyone has permission and responsibility to take that extra moment, to spend that time to help the person feel comfortable and relaxed, to answer questions and just be there for them and not just - oh, I'm busy, I can't do that," he says.
