Critical incident response—what happens when it’s all over?

My good friend and esteemed colleague, Robert Vance III, has been working in the hospital environment for a fair number of years now. In working with Bob at Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California, what has impressed me most is his thoughtful and measured approach to everything he does. He also happens to be a fine writer, so for this week’s Safety Space, I have a little bit of homework for you readers.

Bob has authored an outstanding article on the importance of what happens after response to a critical incident; the article is insightful and I think well worth your time; you can read it here. The article really resonates with me in regards to those events and occurrences that stay with you long after the ripples of said events have subsided. And, you never know when the lessons of the past can form the basis of how—and to what degree—one responds in the now. Bob’s story reflects some of the changes in the world, but also serves as a reminder that there is a commonality of events that can reach out over time in unexpected ways. At the end of the day, we need to be sure that we have structures in place to support the frontline folks who sometimes have to endure all manner of chaos and then immediately get back to work. None of us cares to admit to any fragility, but, being human, it’s always in the mix.

Many thanks to Bob Vance for allowing me to share the article in this space. I appreciate his commitment to supporting us all, and I appreciate him!

About the Author: Steve MacArthur is a safety consultant with The Chartis Group. He brings more than 30 years of healthcare management and consulting experience to his work with hospitals, physician offices, and ambulatory care facilities across the country. He is the author of HCPro's Hospital Safety Director's Handbook and is an advisory board member for Accreditation and Quality Compliance Center. Contact Steve at stevemacsafetyspace@gmail.com.