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ED PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM ACROSS ASCENSION
Julie Doniere, MD, and the staff at an Ascension Wisconsin Emergency Department did everything possible to save the life of an expectant mother. Unfortunately, the case had a devastating and tragic outcome.
The following day, Dr. Doniere received an email from an Ascension Emergency Medicine colleague from another ministry in another state. She didn’t know the person but soon learned that someone on her team had made a referral to the ED Provider Associate Care Team (PACT) out of concern for her.
“I didn’t know I needed the support,” said Dr. Doniere, a 25-year veteran, “but I did. I was the elder physician on the case and felt my role was to support my staff. It was wonderful to know that someone on my team wanted to support me.”
The PACT peer supporter and Dr. Doniere talked through the difficult case a few days later.
“All of us in emergency medicine are constantly immersed in stress and cannot let that affect our next patient,” she said. “We see very traumatic experiences all the time and tend to just keep moving.”
LISTENING AND VALIDATING
“Even before the pandemic, we knew that mental health and ED wellness was very important. We see the most tragic, unpredictable and terrifying conditions that can happen to human beings,” said Allison Bollinger, MD, Vice President, Emergency Services, Ascension. “Time was of the essence to be there for our colleagues.”
Beth Griffin, MD, President, Emergency Medicine Specialists, and Renee Sharp, MBA, MSN, RN, CEN, Director, Performance Excellence, Ascension, understood the urgent need for peer support for Ascension ED associates.
In a few months’ time and with support throughout Ascension, an ED service line PACT program was introduced earlier this year. Darryl Jordan and Brenda Kramer, associates who introduced Ascension’s PACT program in 2014, proved to be the most important resource. Ascension’s PACT program has become the largest program of its type in the U.S., training thousands of clinicians and supporters who want to implement or be part of a peer-to-peer emotional support program.
— ALLISON BOLLINGER, MD, VICE PRESIDENT, EMERGENCY SERVICES, ASCENSION
Feeling burned out? Struggling? Rough shift?
Feeling burned out? Colleague needs help?
Feeling burned out? Struggling? Rough shift? Colleague needs help? Struggling? Feeling burned out? Here for you... ED Peer Support Here for you... ED Peer Support ED Peer Support team
ED Peer Support team Reach out to an ED friend! Reach out to an ED friend! Peer supporters create a safe, confidential space that allows Peer supporters create a safe, colleagues to debrief and the supporter to listen, acknowledge confidential space that allows and provide encouragement. colleagues to debrief and the supporter to listen, acknowledge Scan this code or visit ascn.io/EDPeerSupport to fill out a short form. A friend will be by your and provide encouragement. side within 24 hours.
Debriefing with a friend is not a weakness. It is a strength and will help you maintain your health! Ask for yourself or refer a colleague.
@ Ascension 2021. All rights reserved. 607078
Scan this code or visit Scan this code or visit ascn.io/EDPeerSupport ascn.io/EDPeerSupport to fill out a short form. to fill out a short form. A friend will be by your A friend will be by your side within 24 hours. side within 24 hours.
“We have a phenomenal network of physician and nurse leaders representing every Ascension ED created through the ED Optimization Team. Through the structure that is in place, we are able to reach every front-line ED clinician within Ascension,” said Dr. Griffin. “We challenged Darryl and Brenda to redesign PACT peer supporter training virtually and to help us make this program System-wide, virtual, service line specific — and quickly!”
When the first call went out for volunteers, 32 physicians, nurses and chaplains from across Ascension participated in virtual training and now stand ready to provide support to their peers in need.
“The PACT peer support training helps volunteers understand that they are not professional counselors,” said Renee. “Our role is to listen and validate feelings. We are here for co-workers as friends, and, if needed, offer additional resources.”
Referrals are completely confidential. A peer supporter will reach out within 24 hours.
“If you are sincerely worried about a colleague who had a rough shift, or notice that someone isn’t acting right, a referral is the best thing you can do,” said Renee. “If you need to talk to someone, you can also reach out for yourself.”
“As a system, we need to continue to remind each other that if we don’t care for ourselves, keep our bodies and minds healthy, we can’t be there for our patients. The old way of thinking of working ourselves to the bone, never stopping, round at all hours of the day, has gone by the wayside,” said Dr. Bollinger. “We know the need is there and continue to see more and more referrals.”
Debriefing with a friend is not a weakness. It is a strength and will help you maintain your health! Ask for yourself or refer a colleague. @ Ascension 2021. All rights reserved. 607078
