*TS: Saving the “Second Victim” Helping the Clinicians Involved in Patient Safety Events[®] [REF: MDx, LDR, RNx, StEd] The Source, January 2014, Vol 12, #1, Pg 1 #JCs1401_B2

Element 9 of LD.04.04.05 requires leaders to make ‘support systems’ available to staff who have been involved in an adverse or sentinel event…Second Victims.   Not only is this the right thing to do, but it is important to staff well-being/morale, the organization’s safety culture (LD.03.01.01), the ability to have blame-free reporting (LD.04.04.05, EP6) and even to the safety and quality of patient care going forward.  The article provides a nice review of symptoms that might indicate the need for Second Victim support.  It’s most significant take away, however, is the identification of resources for developing an effective system of support.  These include:

• The University of Missouri Health Care ForYOU Team that was developed in 2007 specifically for support of Second Victims.  Their site includes free support pamphlets for both staff and family.
• MITSS (Medically Induced Trauma Support Services), a non-profit organization whose mission is To Support Healing and Restore Hope to patients, families, and clinicians impacted by medical errors and adverse medical events.  Their website includes an impressive Toolkit for Building a Clinician and Staff Support Program.  The article includes a 1-page Organizational Assessment Tool for Clinician Support.

Tip: Assess the clinician support aspect of your Safety Culture by administering the organizational assessment tool referenced above.
Tip: Although this TJC article focuses on staff support, MITSS has equal concern for patients.  Take 7 minutes in the next leadership meeting to watch The MITSS Story for some inspiration on furthering your own safety culture.

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