Intermountain’s top priority is caregiver safety and well-being. The Safety and Security team and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) continue to focus their efforts on ensuring you’re safe and feel secure and confident when you come to work.
“We know caregivers may be on edge right now,” says Craig Allen, Safety Management director. “The Safety team is focused on maintaining a quick response to any threats. Caregiver training is a pillar of our security plan because we know outcomes are better when people are prepared to act. Safety is everyone’s business.”
The Safety team has protocols in place to protect caregivers in a range of situations. You can review them on the Safety webpage and the Preventing Workplace Violence page.
You can contribute to safety every day by:
- Saying something if you see something “off” or that makes you feel unsafe.
- Being familiar with your Run-Hide-Fight training.
- Knowing how to contact Security in your facility for emergencies by reviewing facility specific recognize and respond guidelines.
“If you receive anything that sounds threatening or makes you uneasy, escalate that to your manager or Security so precautionary measures can be taken,” Craig says. “We deal with these types of threats frequently and, if we know about them, we can intervene.”
Emotional well-being is just as critical as physical safety, especially for people who care for others every day. EAP maintains a strong network of counselors who provide emotional support, education, and resources.
“Managing your response to fear and anxiety can be difficult, and you don’t have to struggle alone,” says Matt Steinkamp, EAP director. “Supporting others and asking for support if we need it builds connections with each other. These connections are extremely beneficial, and not just during stressful times.”
You can contribute to emotional well-being every day by:
- Noticing changes in your colleagues’ behavior and checking in with them.
- Seeking support from a trusted source if needed.
- Listening to colleagues without judgment or attempting to ‘fix’ someone’s feelings.
- Knowing your own limits for helping and referring colleagues to EAP, chaplains, or a trained peer counselor.
The Caregiver Brief will now include links to safety resources and trainings, in addition to EAP and LiVe Well links, in every issue in the Helpful Resources section so you can easily find them when needed.
Safety Management website | Workplace Violence Prevention | Leave a comment