Improving the Patient Experience in Pediatrics through Trauma Informed Care

Jenaya Gordon, MA, CCLS, NCC | Associate Clinical Manager of Child Life, Children’s Hospital Colorado
Alisa Thomas, MSW, LCSW | Manager of Clinical Social Work, Children’s Hospital Colorado

According to the 2012 National Survey of Children’s Health, approximately half of the children in the United States were exposed to one or more traumatic life events. For pediatric health care professionals, it is crucial to be skilled at supporting traumatized children and families. In order to deliver exemplary care, an emphasis must be placed on both the medical and emotional needs of the patients. Without taking a Trauma-Informed Care approach, emotional damage can be the unintended consequence of healing the physical wounds. According to the American Medical Association, “Trauma-informed care minimizes the potential for medical care to become traumatic or trigger trauma reactions, addresses distress, provides emotional support for the entire family, encourages positive coping, and provides anticipatory guidance regarding the recovery process.” (JAMA Pediatrics 2016;170(1):70-77.) This session will address common responses to trauma for children, teens and their parents/guardians. Additionally, practical skills and tools will be discussed. The impact of traumatic reactions on medical care will be explored, as will ways to decrease inadvertently re-traumatizing patients and families. Discussions will take place around creating an emotionally safe environment and providing sensitive medical care to improve the patient experience.