Risk management considerations
Go back to the Clinician and Staff Peer Support Toolkit
Protections for your peer support program
Note: Peer support in most organizations is not protected. Check your state law and legal counsel regarding confidentiality of provider support after adverse events.
Peer support bylaws Tool
The University of Illinois has included language into their bylaws for protection. Download the bylaws
Template for board resolutions Tool
An example of a board resolution from Experix to have peer support be put under the quality improvement umbrella in an ambulatory setting. Read the resolution
Improving patient safety: The intersection of safety culture, clinician and staff support, and patient safety organizations Research Tool
This white paper discusses opportunities to implement and integrate support programs through PSO participation. Page 9 Exhibit 1 includes an example of the University of North Carolina Medical Center policy. Read the white paper
Connecting your support program to other initiatives
RCA2: Improving root cause analyses and actions to prevent harm Tool
The National Patient Safety Foundation encourages organizations to adopt use root cause analysis and action (RCA2) to prevent future harm. Read the report
Communication and Resolution Programs Tool
Consider connecting peer support with other programs, for example a Communication and Resolution Program (CRP).
- The Betsy Lehman Center offers free support to health care organizations in Massachusetts implementing Communication, Resolution and Apology (CARe).
- The Collaborative for Accountability and Improvement is based out of the University of Washington and works with providers across the country to establish communication and resolution programs.
Supporting clinicians immediately after an event Tool
These videos show the impact of support for clinicians prior to communication following an adverse event or medical error.
- Disclosure with no support: Communication after a bad outcome with no support
- Disclosure with support: A physician gets support and guidance prior to communicating with a family member following a bad outcome
Patient safety professionals as the third victims of adverse events Research
This article describes potential sources of harm to patient safety professionals, including critical incident stress, emotional labor, abusive supervision, and competing loyalties/duties. Read the article
Tools for ambulatory settings
Supporting clinicians after adverse events: Development of a clinician peer support program Research
This article describes steps to create a peer support program focused on physicians and mid-level providers. Read the article
Basic event analysis in outpatient and ambulatory settings Tool
A checklist for office practice managers after an adverse event from Washington University School of Medicine. Download the checklist
Patient safety event briefings Tool
Event debriefing basics after a patient safety event from Washington University School of Medicine. Learn more
Guidelines for disclosure of adverse events to patients Tool
A pocket card with basic principles and guidelines from the Washington University School of Medicine. Download the pocket card
Step-by-step guide for peer supporters Tool
A pocket card with information about offering peer support and documenting interactions from Physicians Insurance. Download the pocket card