Frederick van Pelt, MD, MBA
Rick van Pelt is currently the Director for Global Programs at Partners Harvard Medical International (PHMI) and an Instructor of Anaesthesiology at Harvard Medical School. He is an innovator in the areas of patient safety and healthcare quality improvement and has served in multiple clinical and administrative leadership roles in the public and private healthcare sectors. Rick has international consulting experience in facilities development, policy development and quality management, and he is a recognized international speaker on his expertise in creating supportive clinical work environments. He is the co-founder of the Peer Support Service at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and the former Chairman of the Board for Medically Induced Trauma Support Services (MITSS).
"When Things Go Wrong; Support After Adverse Medical Events."
Short summary: The patient safety movement in healthcare is beginning to openly acknowledge the need to support the human side of adverse medical events in conjunction with evidence-based improvement initiatives. This presentation described an
adverse medical event where open communication and apology catalyzed the development and implementation of a structured peer support service for care providers at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital following adverse events.
The Peer Support Service bypasses the stigmas that limit the utilization of formal support services and offers care providers a safe environment to share the
emotional impact of adverse events while serving as a foundation for open communication and a renewal of compassion in the workplace. As the breadth of stressors impacting healthcare professionals is revealed, the Peer Support Service is being recognized as a vital hospitalwide service. It also appears to offer an important leap forward in the critical areas of patient safety and quality of care.