EMPATHIZING

Understanding what others need in the event of medical harm, and offering them support helps to build a network of trust both within and outside of the medical system. Early disclosure and proactive communications between medical staff and patients can help resolve medical events fairly and transparently.

RECONCILIATION

Communication and Resolution Programs enable healthcare entities to respond with empathy and compassion to help all involved reconcile in the wake of patient harm.

CARING FOR THE CAREGIVER

Find programs to assist distressed healthcare workers through Caring for the Caregiver which provides psychological and emotional support following adverse events.

MENTAL
BURNOUT

Listen to an advocate and a psychiatrist discuss clinician mental health in the First Opinion podcast.

PEER TO PEER
SUPPORT

As a coworker, you can reach out to someone showing signs of distress and listen and support them.

ADDITIONAL
HELP

Call a helpline and find emotional and mental health resources and support.

NEVER EVENTS

Encourage your hospital or surgery center to model Leapfrog's Never Events policy. This includes apologizing, conducting a root cause analysis and supporting caregivers involved in never events.

MORAL INJURY

Moral Injury occurs when a practitioner observes actions that conflict with their values or is unable to prevent or protect patients from an adverse event. For example: making a decision that can lead to a negative outcome or has more serious health implications, going against one's beliefs in their actions or words and witnessing a high level of injury, death or distress. Such experiences can result in guilt, shame, burnout or anger which impacts one's own well-being, empathy and performance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MORAL INJURY

Moral injury is not an individual fault. It is a sign of problems at the institutional or systems level.

IMPACT ON HEALTH WORKERS

Learn more about moral injury among health workers.