Table 3.
Reported characteristics of 423 provider support programs
| Survey question | Response | Percent of respondents selecting “Yes” |
|---|---|---|
| “Select the situations in which support is offered to a healthcare worker (Select all that apply)”
| ||
| If the healthcare worker requests it | 93.6% (396) | |
| If a risk manager or another leader feels it is warranted | 75.9% (321) | |
| If a healthcare worker is involved in an adverse event, regardless of whether or not they request support or appear to need it | 48.7% (206) | |
| If the healthcare worker is named as a defendant in a lawsuit | 47.3% (200) | |
| If a healthcare worker’s responses to a screening instrument used to detect distress indicate that it is warranted | 18.4% (78) | |
| Other | 5.4% (23) | |
|
| ||
| “What mechanisms are available for healthcare workers to access support? (Select all that apply)”
| ||
| Self referral | 95.5% (404) | |
| Department leader or unit manager referral | 79.1% (335) | |
| Risk manager referral | 69.7% (295) | |
| Telephone or pager hotline | 61.5% (260) | |
| Impromptu peer referral | 36.9% (156) | |
| Automatic referral (e.g. support team contacts healthcare workers after any adverse event | 18.2% (77) | |
| Active surveillance by peers trained to look for distressed healthcare workers | 13.7% (58) | |
| Other | 3.3% (14) | |
|
| ||
| “Who provides support for healthcare workers? (Select all that apply)”
| ||
| Employee Assistance Program (EAP) employees | 89.6% (379) | |
| Risk managers | 54.1% (229) | |
| Pastoral care staff | 46.6% (197) | |
| Human resources/Personnel office | 38.8% (164) | |
| Clinical support providers (MD or PhD) | 37.6% (159) | |
| Social workers | 34.8% (147) | |
| Peers trained in providing support | 21.3% (90) | |
| Support groups | 10.6% (45) | |
| Other | 9.0% (38) | |
|
| ||
| “Where is your healthcare worker support program located within the organizational structure of your healthcare institution (Select all that apply)”
| ||
| Employee Assistance Program (EAP) | 90.1% (381) | |
| Risk management | 27.9% (118) | |
| Wellness program | 25.8% (109) | |
| Quality improvement/Patient Safety | 13.5% (57) | |
| Nursing/Patient Care Services | 13.2% (56) | |
| Medical director or executive leadership office | 12.1% (51) | |
| Specific clinical department (e.g. Internal Medicine or Psychiatry) | 10.6% (45) | |
| Claims management | 8.7% (37) | |
| Profession liability insurer outside your institution | 8.7% (37) | |