1. Patient and Families Following Medical Harm
Health Care for All Webinar
Linda Kenney
March 12, 2014

2. We all have stories…

3. Creation of MITSS
2002 – Medically Induced Trauma Support Services (MITSS), Inc. Mission: To Support Healing and Restore Hope to patients, families, and clinicians following adverse medical events.

4. Working Definition Medically Induced Trauma
is an unexpected outcome that occurs during medical and/or surgical care that affects the emotional well being of the patient, family member, and/or clinician(s).
Adverse Event
Medical Error
Unanticipated Outcome
Known complications
Harm due to medical intervention

5. Trauma
Trauma is a part of the human experience. The trauma response occurs when a person experiences or witnesses a sudden, terrible, and unexpected event which temporarily destroys his/her ability to cope. Trauma is essentially a normal response to an abnormal or extreme event.

6. Patient & Family Brochure

8. What Patients and Families Want Following Adverse Medical Events
Transparent communication in real time
An apology or an acknowledgement
Organizational response to prevent recurrence
Support (unique for each individual)

9. Patients and families may feel a mix of emotions following an adverse medical event, including:
Sadness
Anger
Mistrust
Isolation
A desire to connect with others
Guilt
Shame
Fear
Grief/Loss
Grateful to survive
Ambivalence

10. Multifaceted Consequences
Further medical follow-up as a result of event
Chronic pain
Financial strain
Job loss/increased work stress
Child care/parenting burdens
Marital conflict
Death of a loved one

11. MITSS Patient/Family Group

12. Early on….
MITSS realized if hospital’s weren’t acknowledging these events, how were going to provide support.
MITSS started to get more involved in what was called “Disclosure and Apology”

13. MACRMI Involved early on
After the PFAC’s look at documents, we send it out to the patients and families who have utilized MITSS services
They see things through a specific lens

14. MITSS Resources & Contact Info.
– Downloadable Items
Patient/Family Brochure
LEND Document
Common Reactions to Trauma
Self-care Tips
Child’s Reaction to Trauma
Linda Kenney