Critical Incident and Trauma Response Program

TriHealth EAP provides a rapid response to any emergency that may occur at your company.  Our Critical Incident/Trauma Response Program provides assistance to organizations, and their employees who are experiencing the physical, emotional and psychological effects of a critical/traumatic event.

Critical/traumatic events are outside the range of ordinary human experience. They are overwhelming, powerful and generally disruptive to individuals and groups. Some examples are:

• The death or critical illness of a co-worker or a co-worker's family member
• A serious accident or injury involving a employee in or outside of the workplace
• Acts of violence, assault, war, tragic or catastrophic events
• Acts of terrorism, threats, toxic exposure
• Natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes or floods

All calls from a company representative for crisis assistance receive an immediate response from a member of TriHealth EAP's Clinical Team. The following steps are followed:

• Assessment: An initial assessment of the impact of the critical incident/trauma on company personnel is developed.
• Gathering Facts: Detailed information about the critical incident/trauma is gathered.
• Management Consultation: Immediate and ongoing consultation is provided to management. TriHealth EAP will assist management in the role of the EAP, rumor control, communications and other assistance needed.
• Action Plan: Preliminary plans are outlined and action steps are developed.

TriHealth EAP can provide on-site counselors and/or a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Session. When the trauma is very severe, an on-site counselor can be very helpful. A group session generally is most beneficial.

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)

This is a specific service in a group setting designed to assist participants in dealing with the physical, emotional or psychological symptoms that generally are associated with a critical incident/trauma. It allows for the participants to process with others the critical event, to reflect on its impact, and to defuse the emotions and thoughts associated with a traumatic event.

A CISD is best received within 24 to 48 hours after the event. Management is instructed to arrange a meeting room with a time convenient for those employees involved. Everyone affected is invited to attend, but attendance is optional.

The response to a CISD during the workday is immediate. If it occurs after hours or on a weekend the On-Call Response Counselor will provide phone assistance and offer an on-site presence to the company as soon as possible.

Individual Counseling

Some employees may experience a greater degree of trauma and need individual assistance. During and after the debriefing, our counselors will identify and refer those employees needing further counseling and assistance. We also will assist managers in recognizing post-trauma symptoms and provide guidance on how to refer employees to the EAP.

Post-Debriefing Communications

TriHealth EAP provides follow-up telephone calls to leaders within the department involved in the debriefing to discern the current status and the effect of the debriefings, and to address any lingering concerns.