Risk management considerations

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