Staff Support – Staff Debriefing
Regardless of the exact nature of a disaster, the hospital staff will be asked to perform familiar and unfamiliar tasks under extreme conditions. In addition to that stress, staff may be dealing with concern and uncertainty about the well-being of their families. Further, it is reasonable to assume that in a disaster staff will face:
In addition to training, drills and reasonable levels of support, the hospital should anticipate and be prepared to respond to the immediate emotional toll disaster response may exact on all staff. To this end, the following protocols are in place:
Through the coordinated efforts of all supervisory personnel and the Support Branch Director, the Employee Health & Well-Being Unit Leader and the Mental Health Unit Leader of HICS, staff will be monitored during the disaster for indicators of a Traumatic Stress Response.
The Mental Health Unit Leader will provide trained psychiatric staff to interact with staff in a designated rest area in an effort to mitigate the primary or secondary traumatic stress reaction. The staff member will be evaluated as to their capacity to return to their duties, with the possibility of reassignment if needed.
After the disaster is over, staff will be educated as to the signs and symptoms of Traumatic Stress Response, and given directions for obtaining care. Supervisors will monitor staff for indicators of an adverse reaction.
A Professional Stress Debriefing Agency will be contacted by the hospital to arrange for their services in the days and weeks following the termination of the Disaster.
The hospital’s Employee Assistance Program will be alerted and asked to provide on-site education and counseling for staff.