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As part of BWH’s BluePrint celebration, BWH Bulletin features this special section to explore the past, present and future of the institution. You can find information about BluePrint, including a tool kit, milestones and events, at BWHPikeNotes.org/BluePrint. Questions? Email BWHBluePrint@partners.org.
BWH's Annie Lewis-O'Connor (second from left) and Mardi Chadwick (second from right) and colleagues from across Partners helped organize Partners' first annual Trauma-Informed Care Conference.
On Oct. 24, care providers and staff from across Partners HealthCare, along with distinguished guests and speakers, filled the Bornstein Amphitheater for a first of its kind conference for Partners and a BluePrint-themed event.
The topic was trauma-informed care, a timely and important issue as Domestic Violence Awareness Month comes to a close. Trauma-informed care is defined as an approach to patient care that recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms in patients and acknowledges the role that trauma has played in their lives. At the core of this compassionate care is the act of listening.
The event began with opening remarks and reflections by Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley, who shared her commitment to ending the cycle of violence and supporting those who take care of patients affected by trauma.
"We need to fight for greater investment in social and emotional support services in our schools," Pressley said. "So many children are coming to school with an impeded ability to learn and grow because of the violence and abuse going on in their homes. Until we have peace in our homes, we won't have peace in our streets."
Ayanna Pressley
BWH's Center for Community Health and Health Equity Senior Vice President Wanda McClain, MPA; Partners Vice President for Community Health Matt Fishman; Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer Jackie Somerville, RN, PhD; and BWH Women's CARE Clinic Director Annie Lewis-O'Connor, NP, PhD, MPH, also gave brief remarks. Carole Warshaw, MD, director of the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health, presented the keynote address, which focused on the importance of being present and connecting with patients who have experienced trauma, which she says starts with personal awareness and self-care.
"Trauma is pervasive," said Warshaw. "Sixty percent of males and 50 percent of females in the U.S. have experienced some kind of trauma. The ways we interact and connect with people to mitigate the effects of trauma are critical."
The event also featured a panel composed of Robin Cunningham, NP, RN, of Newton-Wellesley Memorial Hospital's Emergency Department; Wendy Macias Konstantopoulos, MD, MPH, of Mass. General Hospital's Emergency Service; and Erica Veguilla, MD, co-director of BWFH's Addiction Recovery Program. About 30 posters were presented on the Shapiro Porch following the panel, providing an opportunity for attendees to meet one another.