Operation of a support service team in the emergency department of a general hospital.
We describe the development and operation of an emergency support service team in the Emergency Department of the Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, Ont. The team, composed of professionals from other departments of the hospital, provides emotional and practical support to family members or survivors in medical emergencies. We discuss the roles of the team members and their procedures for dealing with distress and grief.
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D009864:Ontario; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D000078329:Workforce