title: The experiences of risk managers in providing emotional support for health care workers after adverse events.
abstract: Risk managers often meet with health care workers who are emotionally traumatized following adverse events. We surveyed members of the American Society for Health care Risk Management (ASHRM) about their training, experience, competence, and comfort with providing emotional support to health care workers. Although risk managers reported feeling comfortable and competent in providing support, nearly all respondents prefer to receive additional training. Risk managers who were comfortable listening to and supporting health care workers were more likely to report prior training. Health care organizations implementing second victim support programs should not rely solely on risk managers to provide support, rather engage and train interested risk managers and provide them with opportunities to practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy & Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Hanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Edrees
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and MEDEX Northwest, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Douglas M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Brock
authors.affiliation: Professor of Health Policy and Management and Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Albert W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Patient Safety Innovations and Provider Support, Physicians Insurance A Mutual Company/Experix, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Patricia I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: McCotter
authors.affiliation: Physician Affairs, Physicians Insurance A Mutual Company/Experix, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hofeldt
authors.affiliation: Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Shannon
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Department of Bioethics & Humanities, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000523:psychology*; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D012308:Risk Management; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires