Leveraging the power of peer support: The story and impact of Team Lavender

As the world continues to take inventory of the wake left by the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare organizations and leaders remain steadfast on recovery. At Northwell Health, the largest health system in New York State, employee emotional wellness remains a constant priority. Team Lavender (TL) is an interdisciplinary group of professionals dedicated to supporting colleagues during times of stress and/or hardship. Emergent and proactive TL peer support responses/activations provide a moment of pause, reflection, teamwork, and peer support. Particularly during COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent variant surges, this innovative budget-neutral approach was recognized and leveraged to promote resiliency, humanism and holistic well-being.