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Crisis Response Team Potential Members
Crisis Response Team Potential Members
DIO Identifies Team Leader
Core Members of the Crisis Response Team:
Organizational Development Manager,
Director of Operations, GME;
Medical School Communications
Other Members: Depending on the situation, could include;
The Education Manager of the deceased trainee’s program,
Medical School leaders (Director of Learner Development, Psychologist, Dean of Students, Chief of Staff if the deceased was a U of M Medical School Grad),
GME Human Resources,
other U of M Medical School campus leaders if the deceased was at Duluth or St Cloud.
Key Crisis Response Contacts
Key Crisis Response Contacts
Crisis Response Team Checklist
Crisis Response Team Checklist
Day 1
Day 1
Inform the trainee’s emergency contact person if not already done.
Identify who will be the liaison with the deceased trainee’s family. Determine their wishes regarding communication of the news of the death.
Select the appropriate Crisis Response Team after the DIO identifies the team leader, based on the communities affected
Immediate notifications (See communications phases).
Meetings(s) with trainees.
Day 2 (depending on timing, some of these steps occur on Day 1)
Day 2 (depending on timing, some of these steps occur on Day 1)
Remaining announcements (See Communication Plan sequence).
Assure that check-ins occur with any at risk trainees
Work with the program to plan an opportunity for trainees to meet with mental health professionals, either in a group setting or as individuals.
If possible, make arrangements to provide meals over the next week at the clinic and/or hospital. Invite trainees, faculty, and affected staff to take advantage of these meals. This takes pressure off the grieving trainees/faculty and encourages community engagement. It also gives trainees in other programs an opportunity to "do something" either monetarily or through volunteering to buy/deliver food to the program. If appropriate, consider posting a GoFundMe page to raise funds for this purpose. See: Go FundMe example
Check in with the deceased trainee’s family regarding funeral arrangements and next steps.
Identify a program representative to funnel communication to the Crisis Response team lead on needs for program trainees and faculty.
Seek out peer support for the PD from others who have experienced a similar situation (ACGME, others known to committee members)
Depending on the communities impacted by the death, consider a “gathering” time where trainees, faculty, and staff can come together to begin to process the death. There can be sharing what is normal at this point in the grief process, and an opportunity to meet in small groups or individually with a Crisis Counselor. (See "Memorialization" for more details and examples.)
Day 3 - 4
Day 3 - 4
Check-in with Chief Residents across GME to see how they are doing. They will be aware of how many of the trainees are coping. This can be a particularly difficult time for Chiefs.
Let trainees and faculty know about funeral arrangements and address for condolence cards.
Check-in with the program liaison and communicate updates to the Crisis Response Team.
After the first week
After the first week
PDs across GME - Check in periodically with Chief Residents (CR) on how trainees are coping
In areas of GME outside the program of the deceased that have been impacted, consider providing a meal for trainees and encourage faculty members to join.
During week 2
During week 2
Check in with the family liaison re any HR issues (benefits, final paycheck, returning of electronic devices, loan forgiveness, etc.) and memorial services.
Plan onsite memorial service if ok’d by the family, seek the family’s perspective on a preference of what to do. This will depend on the family’s openness to grieving trainees and faculty attending the family funeral service.
Debrief with the Crisis Response Team.
During weeks 3-4
During weeks 3-4
Continue checking in with CR’s of impacted trainees and think about the best ways to support them.
Program Liaison debrief with the Crisis Response Team lead - refine plan.
Beyond first month
Beyond first month
Memorial Service in month 2, if not done earlier (consult with family and program liaison).
Consider programming to help the community with how to approach colleagues who you are concerned about. Be clear not to link this with blame for the tragedy that occurred.
Communication Plan - Crisis Response Team
Communication Plan - Crisis Response Team
First, a Crisis Response Team Lead should be identified by the DIO. The team is often composed of several individuals: the GME DIO, GME Associate DIO, GME Organizational Development Manager, Medical School Communications, and may also include the PD, PC, a CR, departmental leadership, and/or medical school administrators/learner development, and a representative of one of the employee assistance programs. This team should coordinate communication across the graduate training program and University.
The first people to notify are those who need to know while formal announcements are prepared and fellow trainees (trainees in the same program as the deceased trainee) are notified.
Working with the Community in the Event of a Suicide or Homicide
Working with the Community in the Event of a Suicide or Homicide
It may become necessary in the aftermath of a suicide or homicide to communicate with community partners such as the coroner/medical examiner and police.
If warranted, the coroner or medical examiner is the best starting point for confirming that the death has in fact been declared a suicide or homicide. (In some cases, it may also be necessary to contact the police department to verify the information). However, given how quickly news and rumors spread (including through media coverage, email, texting, and social media), institutions may not be able to wait for a final determination before they need to begin communication with the trainees and faculty. There may also be cases in which there is disagreement between the authorities and the family regarding the cause of death. For example, the death may have been declared a probable suicide by the family believes it to have been an accident or possible homicide. Or the death may have been declared a suicide, but the family does not want this communicated, perhaps due to stigma, for fear of risking contagion, or because they simply do not (yet) believe or accept that is was a suicide.
Institutions have a responsibility to balance the need to be truthful with the community while remaining sensitive to the family. As mentioned above, this is an opportunity to educate the community (including potentially vulnerable trainees) about the causes and complexity of a suicide and to identify available mental health resources.
The police will likely be an important source of information about the death, particularly if there is an ongoing investigation (for example, if it has not yet been determined whether the death was suicide or homicide). The Crisis Response Team will need to be in close communication with the police to determine (a) what they can and cannot say to the community so as not to interfere with the investigation, and (b) whether there are certain trainees who must be interviewed by the police before the Crisis Response Team can debrief or counsel them in any way. In situations where law enforcement need to speak with the trainees to help determine the cause of death, a Crisis Response Team member may offer to accompany the trainees for this discussion and notify institutional legal counsel.
Steps can also be taken to network with their local chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and with suicide bereavement support groups (see afsp.org).
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