Establishing A Peer Supported Second Victim Program For Healthcare Providers: Team Heal
Medical errors and adverse events in healthcare resulting in serious patient harm have a substantial impact on patients, families, healthcare providers, and healthcare organizations (Coughlan, Powell and Higgins 2017, Dukhanin et al., 2018). When adverse events occur, the patient and often family members are the “first victims.” However, less attention is given to the healthcare providers known as the “second victims.” Involvement in adverse events leading to patient injury can leave healthcare providers traumatized with emotional distress. Healthcare professionals frequently suffer in silence, experiencing feelings of anxiety, fear, anger, depression, guilt, isolation, and shame (Edrees et al., 2016a). Although the impact of adverse events on patients, families, and overall organizations has created a movement in patient safety, the impact and support of healthcare providers is just beginning to be understood (Pratt et al., 2012).
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