The Emirates Health Services (EHS) has launched the "Theqa" program to support the health care providers (HCPs) who have been traumatized due to their involvement in an unanticipated adverse patient event.
“Theqa” program aims to provide moral and psychological support for this category, known as the "second victim".
This comes as part of the EHS's strategy aimed at improving the quality of life in the workplace, highlighting the importance of psychological and mental health, and spreading a culture of employees' empowerment to achieve intellectual, physical and psychological development.
Developed according to global best practices and scientific evidence, the program strives to strengthen the rights of health care providers in the said case, through promoting five core pillars, namely; fairness, respect, understanding and empathy, supportive care and transparency.
In order to follow up on the implementation of the program, the EHS has established a central committee, taking into consideration the importance of supporting the culture of patient safety as an integral part of the program.
In addition to developing supporting policies, procedures, instructions, and a training program for program coordinators in health facilities, the designated committee will identify the necessary resources and tools to support health care providers in the event of an unanticipated adverse patient event.
Meanwhile, the EHS will work together with all the relevant bodies to support the development of the program and raise the level of awareness about the concept of the second victim.
Prioritizing mental wellbeing of medical cadres
"Theqa program seeks to take care of the mental health of the medical staff, provide supportive programs, and train them on stress management, adaptation, and supportive communication," said HE Dr. Youssef Mohamed Al Serkal, Director-General, EHS, stressing that the EHS has prioritized the mental health of its staff in recognition of their extraordinary efforts.
This comes in line with the directives of the wise leadership on the importance and role of the first line of defense and their sacrifices in protecting the health of the UAE community.
Al Serkal added: "We ensure that all measures are in place to provide psychological support by reviewing their needs and holding periodic workshops to help the medical staff in the front line deal with psychological challenges."
The program aims to promote a culture of patient safety by providing an environment in which workers in our health facilities feel supported to assume their duties in their health institutions, Al-Serkal stated.
Recognizing the impact of this case on patient care, the EHS has decided to adopt this program, given the negative impacts of the second victim syndrome on health care providers in the event of an adverse patient event, he said in conclusion.
Scientific reference
"The Theqa program to support the second victim is now operational at hospitals and health centers and its performance and effectiveness will be evaluated," said Dr. Noor Al Muhairi, Director of the Mental Health Department, EHS.
Al Muhairi remarked that prior to the launch of the program, a research study was conducted to evaluate the mental health of the medical staff in the event of an adverse patient event. This is in order to develop scientific-reference-based programs and plans and identify identifying symptoms of some mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, stress, and psychological stress.
For his part, Dr. Zakaria Al Attal, director of quality management in the EHS, stressed that “Theqa" program will help the establishment promote world-class quality practices, adding that improving the mental health of medical carder is one of the basic criteria and a requirement for obtaining international accreditation for health facilities. Therefore, the program will complete and integrate with a package of procedures and improvements being made by the EHS, to bolster its ongoing efforts to accredit and renew the accreditation of all institutions of operating under the umbrella of EHS, and ultimately enhance efficiency and quality health services.
The "second victim" term is defined as the HCPs who are involved in an unanticipated adverse patient event, in a medical error and/or a patient-related injury and become victimized in the sense that the provider is traumatized by the event. The symptoms range from moderate to severe, including psychological (guilt, anxiety, grief, and depression) and cognitive (compassion dissatisfaction, burnout, secondary traumatic stress), and/or physical reactions that have a personal and professional negative impact that may lead to leaving the job and even physical harm.