Who Heals the Healer?

Imagine you’ve just performed a routine procedure, something you’ve done countless times before. But this time, something goes wrong, and the patient suffers a serious adverse outcome. Despite following every protocol, you find yourself at the center of a malpractice lawsuit where every detail of your practice is scrutinized. The guilt is overwhelming. You begin to question your skills, withdraw from colleagues, and struggle with sleepless nights.

But you find out your organization has a peer support program, where you are connected with a fellow physician who has been through the same thing. Through confidential conversations, you share your fears and anxieties with someone who truly understands. This support from your peer not only helps you process what happened but also restores your confidence, enabling you to return to your work and care for patients with renewed strength.

In the aftermath of a critical medical error, even the most seasoned and skilled provider can find their confidence shattered, grappling with self-doubt and isolation. In the high-stakes world of health care, where perfection is often expected, a lifeline for our healers becomes as crucial as the care they provide to their patients.

The Need for Peer Support

Clinicians are not immune to the emotional toll of patient safety incidents and often experience trauma so significant that it is now known as the “second victim” phenomenon. This term refers to the continued psychological distress a provider may endure after a patient is harmed under their care. The “second victim” often shows symptoms of PTSD, such as withdrawing from colleagues and loved ones and internalizing their pain, which can affect both their professional life and personal well-being.

However, speaking with someone who understands—someone who has been through a similar experience and simply “gets it”—can be a lifeline.

Dr. Gita Pensa, a well-being coach for defendants in malpractice litigation, says “I talk to [defendants] about why there is a why behind the feelings that they have… You, your life, you as a human being, you as a doctor is worth so much more than any one case. The totality of your worth is not tied up in this. This is separate, and we can talk to you about how to get through this separateness, but there are reasons why you feel the way you do, and a lot of it has to do with culturally how we have dealt with this in medicine prior to you.”

This is where peer support programs come into play. These programs are not just a means of coping with adverse events; they can also help health care providers navigate other challenges that can impact both work and life, for example, divorce, death of a family member, and burnout.

What Are Peer Support Programs?

Peer support programs are evidence-based interventions designed to improve individual and team well-being, enhance organizational culture, and ultimately promote patient safety. These programs serve as a crucial first line of support, but they do not replace professional psychological care.

Societal and cultural stigma surrounding mental illness and fears of career repercussions for receiving mental health care can leave providers feeling reluctant to seek help. Thus, confidential and empathetic support is the foundation of such programs.

In recent years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, many health care organizations have developed peer support programs in response to the unprecedented stress, burnout, and hardship faced by providers. Notable examples include programs at institutions like Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Massachusetts. Additionally, some providers may benefit from third-party programs like the Physician Support Line, which offers confidential and non-judgmental support from volunteer psychiatrists.

The Impact on Patient Safety

Emotionally strong health care providers are essential for safe patient care. A successful peer support program offers a supportive and confidential process that helps individuals minimize guilt, anxiety, and stress, allowing them to begin healing immediately after an emotionally challenging clinical event. These interventions play a significant role in both employee recovery and overall wellness, ensuring that the focus on patient care remains steadfast even in the most trying circumstances.

Peer support programs also contribute to a healthier organizational culture. By addressing the emotional well-being of health care providers, these programs help foster a supportive work environment where staff can thrive. In turn, this can lead to improved job satisfaction, reduced burnout, and better patient outcomes.

Additional Resources

• CRICO Video: Healing the Healer
• Podcast: Clinicians are Far from Alone During a Lawsuit
• Podcast: Dr. Gita Pensa’s Doctors and Litigation: The L Word
• Podcast: Getting Clinicians in Lawsuits to Care for Themselves is Hard
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness: Peer support resources for health care professionals (physicians, nurses, emergency responders, etc.)
• Betsy Lehman Center’s Virtual Peer Support Network: For health care professionals in Massachusetts
• Center for Patient Safety: Peer Support Program Development