MITSS Now Available to BWH Patients
BWH this year became the first major teaching hospital in the country to establish a patient referral process with Medically Induced Trauma Support Services (MITSS), a non-profit organization that supports patients, families and clinicians affected by an adverse medical event.
Risk Management and Patient/Family Relations receive referrals from patients, family or staff about complaints or grievances related to the quality of patient care or adverse medical events. Staff from these departments will identify appropriate resources for patients and families. For complaints related to medically induced trauma, a BWH social worker will respond and help patients and families to assess the need for additional support.
Referrals to MITSS may be made by Patient/Family Relations, Risk Management, nurse managers, staff nurses, physicians or other members of the health care team. Members of a clinical care team can contact a BWH social worker to refer a patient or family member to MITSS. Upon receiving the referral, the BWH social worker assesses the emotional readiness of patients and families for MITSS services and facilitates the referral process to the MITSS team.
BWH has a partnership with MITSS and welcomes members of the MITSS team to provide services when they may be necessary. In addition, members of the MITSS team are available to BWH clinical staff who may be involved with a medically induced adverse event. MITSS offers the opportunity for clinicians to talk confidentially about their experiences.
"The staff from MITSS provide both our patients and our clinical staff with a valuable resource to facilitate and augment the healing process," said Andy Whittemore, MD, BWH's chief medical officer.
To contact MITSS, call 888-36-MITSS (1-888-3666-4877) or visit www.mitss.org