The 2005 invitation from CCAPS was not a surprise as Belen and I were, at that time, the only two Hispanic CPSP CPE Diplomates on the East Coast who are fluent in both Spanish and English with experience in Hospice and Acute Care environments.

Our three day survey included an in depth examination of the Pastoral Care Department at Hospicio La Paz. This included interviews with Chaplains, the medical director, nurses, social workers, accountants, clients, and the administrative staff. At the conclusion of our review, the hospice and its program was found to be in excellent operating condition but for one deficiency. Based on our findings, Belen and I recommended to David Plummer that CCAPS give the Hospice conditional accreditation (for five years) in order to give them enough time to cure the one deficiency found. That deficiency, as Miguel stated in his article, was that the staff Chaplains had no Clinical Pastoral Education training. The question then became: �How do we train the staff at minimum cost to the Hospice without a CPE supervisor on site or in Puerto Rico?�

After much deliberation it was decided that since Miguel had successfully completed four units of CPE while in the military, he could become a Supervisor-in-Training. This creative solution was the brainchild of Belen and eagerly embraced by Miguel. The outcome not only serves the Hospice well, but also provides on site SIT competence. It also gives CPSP a clinical training site for other Chaplains in Puerto Rico should they want or require CPE training.

I am confident that within the timeline defined, under the capable, disciplined leadership of Rev. Miguel Santiago, Hospicio La Paz will meet its requirement to train all its staff Chaplains, attain full CCAPS accreditation and become a new beacon of light in Puerto Rico for the future training of indigenous clinical Chaplains.