WPSC Member Featured in Second Victim Resource Paper

Patricia McCotter, RN, JD, Director of Patient Safety Innovations and Provider Support at WPSC member organization Physicians Insurance, is a co-author of a recent article, “Risk Managers’ Descriptions of Programs to Support Second Victims After Adverse Events,” published in The Journal of Healthcare Risk Management.

“Guidelines call for healthcare organizations to provide emotional support for clinicians involved in adverse events, but little is known about how these organizations seek to meet this need. We surveyed US members of the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM) about the presence, features, and perceived efficacy of their organization’s provider support program. The majority reported that their organization had a support program, but features varied widely and there are substantial opportunities to improve services. Provider support programs should enhance referral mechanisms and peer support, critically appraise the role of employee assistance programs, and demonstrate their value to institutional leaders.”

Congratulations to Pat and her co-authors, several of whom are at the University of Washington, for this important work.