Working within Hospitals and Health Systems to Create a Systematic Approach for the Treatment of Mass Violence Victims
By Michael G. Schmidt, Ph.D., FAAM, FACD
This fall, the AHA’s Hospitals Against Violence (HAV) initiative, in partnership with the National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center (NMVVRC), will debut a collection of new resources for hospital and health systems to support victims and communities impacted by mass violence incidents, including a web resource and webinar series.
Mass violence and trauma each share a common need when it comes to providing access to evidence-based treatments that will serve victims and survivors. These needs are not only in the immediate aftermath of the event, which require care and services, but also throughout the often-lengthy recovery process.
The NMVVRC was established in October 2017 in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) within the Office of Justice Programs. Since its establishment, the center has assembled a multi-disciplinary team of scholars, researchers, victim service providers, survivor advocates, partner organizations, technical experts and relevant local and national organizations to help victims navigate the process required to receive comprehensive care and rehabilitative services often needed as a result of mass violence.
In partnering with the NMVVRC, the AHA will offer its members access to a wealth of experiences, perspectives and resources. The new webinar series was developed jointly using input from leaders, providers and victims — each of whom has witnessed the entire spectrum of demand required for preparation, response, recovery, resiliency and sustainability, and can offer perspectives on how best outcomes can be achieved.
There is a common experience for victims of mass violence and trauma: the needs that arise after initial services offered are often required at a moment’s notice. This is something that health systems are often well positioned to deal with. However, there are limits that often emerge as the patients/victims move through the system during their often-lengthy recovery.
AHA and NMVVRS found a shared goal of articulating on these patients’ behalf how our evolving health systems and care delivery models might better serve this unique patient community’s needs. As a result, the two partners sought to bring key thought leaders together to facilitate a focused discussion.
The first webinar will provide an overview of available resources and services available through the NMVVRC. The team will share the center’s vision and extensive, curated set of resources, solutions and guidance that may help hospitals and health systems address the needs of the victims of mass violence and trauma. The subsequent three webinars will focus on the hospital and health system’s continuum of care for these victims; response and recovery; and resiliency and sustainability.
To learn more about hospital and health system efforts to treat victims of mass violence, view the online resources and register to attend the first webinar on Sept. 9.
Michael G. Schmidt, Ph.D., is a microbiology and immunology researcher at Medical University of South Carolina and co-director, Environmental & Health Crimes at the National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center. The opinions expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the policy of the American Hospital Association.