IG19113 - European certification of interventions in support of second victims (RESCUE)

The aim of this CIG is twofold. Firstly, it seeks to implement the existing Action technology to certify both individuals and systems, thereby facilitating effective interventions that support Second Victims (SVs) and introducing a European Certification-based recognition system named RESCUE (based on Action 19113 outcomes). Secondly, it aims to devise a business model for the implementation of RESCUE across Europe and globally.
Commencing in September 2020, Action 19113 aimed to foster discussions, exchange scientific knowledge, perspectives, and best practices related to the SVs phenomenon in health and care institutions across 31 European countries. The participation of globally renowned authors in this field enriches the initiative. Key accomplishments include:
1. Updating the conceptualization of SVs1 (definition and scope) previously established in the USA in 2000. Additionally, it has endorsed a policy statement delineating the impact of SVs on patients and efficient approaches to address it.
2. Analyzing the current state of knowledge to identify essential elements in support interventions for SVs. This analysis aims to strengthen the resilience of healthcare professionals in coping with highly stressful events.
3. Creating a novel intervention design model structured in five stages2 (prevention, self-care, peer support, structured professional support, structured clinical support) and identifying success factors for each stage3, validating the efficacy of the peer-support approach. A standardization of a metric to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for SVs was also created, including learning from each SV and peer-supporter experience involving end-users.
Simultaneously, the Action has received requests to aid in implementing SV interventions and training peers as supporters. Through this, unmet demands and needs regarding both issues have been identified. Consequently, the CIG aims to qualify individuals as peer supporters and ensure intervention adequacy by establishing internationally agreed-upon certification rules based on the transfer of knowledge and expertise gained from the Action to practical applications.