Monash ED Peer Support Program

What is the Monash ED peer support program?

Emergency medicine in particular, and life in general, can be very stressful. Personal and professional interactions, as well as the need to be on top of your game at all times, can take their toll and lead to a variety of negative emotions. It's important that doctors have someone to talk to - family and friends are often the first port of call, but sometimes they lack the clinical perspective to understand the situation. The Monash ED Peer Support Program was created to offer an objective, context-specific listening ear and support for ED physicians and registrars. Conversations are completely confidential, unless there's an issue of personal safety. These conversations may occur over the phone or in person. We are here for you!

How is a registrar/consultant identified?

After a known difficult clinical event, as a matter of routine, all involved clinicians will be contacted. In addition, concerned colleagues or supervisors can ask that a registrar be contacted, and registrars can refer themselves. Other times when you may be contacted are following an unsatisfactory attempt at an exam, or if you call in sick and there is concern for your emotional wellbeing.

How is the registrar contacted?

A designated peer supporter will be given your contact information and will email, text, phone or catch you in person. If they email or text, the subject line will be "Touching base". Peer supporters will identify themselves as a member of the peer support program.

How can a registrar contact a peer support volunteer?

• Approach your director or DEMT
• Contact the on-call peer support person, available through the Monash Health contact centre - identify yourself as an MH ED registrar and you'll be put into phone contact with a support person

Is this truly confidential?

Because this program involves medical staff responsible for the evaluation and improvement of the quality of care rendered in the hospital, it is legally protected from discovery. No details about the event are provided to the supporter, and no notes are kept. The involved clinician can decide to discuss aspects of the event, or not.

Peer supporters also maintain strict confidentiality unless there are safety concerns about the physician. The only people who will know that a conversation took place are the involved doctor, the peer supporter, and a coordinator - who only has access to cumulative statistical data (e.g. number of encounters).

What is the role of the peer supporter?

The role of the supporter is to help a clinician cope by listening, offering perspective, emphasising self-care and providing resources. Psych back-up is available as needed.

Peer supporters are unpaid volunteers who believe that our faculty and trainees deserve to be supported during the difficult experiences all physicians face at times in their medical careers. Most have volunteered because they have themselves been recipients of peer support.

Background

The concept of a peer support program was introduced by Dr Preeti Ramaswamy, an ED physician in the Monash Children's ED. A group of over 20 SMS volunteered to have additional training in peer support. The program is based on a number of successful programs from overseas, including the Stanford Medical Centre program.