Clinical debriefing programs to boost well-being of healthcare staff

Grande Prairie Regional Hospital to benefit from Schwartz Rounds and INFO

Story by Amelia Schofield

GRANDE PRAIRIE — Thanks to funding from the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation, two new clinical debriefing programs — Schwartz Rounds and INFO — will support the emotional and psychological well-being of healthcare professionals with at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.

Developed by the Schwartz Centre for Compassionate Healthcare, Schwartz Rounds provides a structured forum where healthcare professionals of all disciplines can debrief on the emotional and social aspects of care. The program provides healthcare professionals with an opportunity to address mental health and well-being in the workplace, while benefitting from a support network of their peers.

“Led by a trained facilitator, Schwartz Rounds provides a safe, confidential space for healthcare providers to support each other while reducing the stigma that is often associated with compassion fatigue and moral distress,” says Dr. Sharron Spicer, associate chief medical officer, Physician Experience, with Alberta Health Services (AHS).

Developed in 2016 by Calgary-based Emergency physician Dr. Stuart Rose, INFO stands for Immediate, Not for personal assessment, Fast facilitated feedback, Opportunity to ask questions. This clinical debriefing method is used by trained healthcare professionals to facilitate discussions among their colleagues after a particularly stressful or high-stakes clinical event.

“INFO promotes a culture where team members feel supported and empowered to reflect on the intense situations they experience, including what went well, what they learned and what improvements could be made in the future. The program has been offered in all Calgary Zone emergency departments, with positive feedback from participants,” adds Dr. Spicer.

“We are looking forward to expanding the reach of Schwartz Rounds and INFO, and providing these valuable supports to healthcare professionals at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.”

The Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation provided $23,500 in funding to bring these programs to the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital. The programs are expected to launch this fall.

“It was important for us as a foundation to support these initiatives because recruiting and retaining physicians and medical staff is no easy task,” says Keith Curtis, executive director, Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation. “We know there’s a lot of stress in these positions, so we want to give the physicians and medical staff the tools they need to do their jobs and maintain their well-being.

“It’s not only about doing things more efficiently. It’s about reducing the overall stress levels of our medical professionals when they are faced with a highly challenging event and to help them prepare for future scenarios they will experience in their roles.”

“Thank you to the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation and their donors for their generous contribution and their help in bringing these two programs to the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital,” says Candice Edey, senior operating officer, Grande Prairie Regional Hospital & Area 9 Grande Prairie & Area.

“The Foundation has been a tremendous supporter of wellness initiatives for our physicians and healthcare professionals, and we are so grateful for their continued partnership.”

Learn more about the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation.