Vermont hospitals enhance care with trauma training programs
Newport Dispatch
In a concerted effort to improve patient care, Vermont hospitals are significantly benefiting from Trauma Responsive Care Trainings, an initiative organized by the Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care (VPQHC) in collaboration with the Department of Mental Health. Throughout 2023, 122 hospital staff underwent the training, designed to increase empathy and responsiveness in patient interactions.
The training team, consisting of Kristy Hommel, M.Ed; Matt Dove, NP, DUAL PMHNP, FNP Certified; and Peter Cudney, LICSW, has been praised for their dynamic approach. Participants of the program reported a heightened awareness and practice in patient advocacy and sensitivity. “I’ve learned to listen to the patients more and really advocate for the patient,” remarked a chief nursing officer who attended the training. Others noted the importance of small gestures in healthcare settings. “It’s not the big things, it’s the little things. It is being reminded of human connection and that little comfort measures are important,” said the Director of Emergency Services.