2023 caregiver retreats emphasize DEI and safety skill-building
In 2023, CMH invested in educating all of its caregivers on safety, unconscious bias and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
The trainings were held through a staff retreat, dubbed “Camp CMH,” and were led by the Patient Experience and Security teams. These important trainings taught skills to combat active shooters and enhance caregivers’ ability to recognize and counteract unconscious bias. More than 700 caregivers attended the retreats.
Unconscious bias and DEI training
During the retreats, caregivers learned to handle situations without unconscious bias getting in the way. Not being aware of unconscious biases can be destructive to teamwork, patient care and inclusion of all people. It may stop someone from getting the right care they need.
Biases are based on experience, education, media, background, rumors and other things. People build biases to categorize all the millions of pieces of information coming at them every second so that they can process and make decisions. That is why hospitals, doctors, nurses and caregivers need to know about biases.
“Our unconscious biases can have negative effects, especially in health care where people come to us expecting us to care for them as a whole person,” says Kristen Moss, Patient Experience manager. “Our unconscious biases can also lower patient and caregiver satisfaction and even cause medical errors … Because of this, patients often avoid or delay care, seek improper medical advice, or self-treat and diagnose.”
Security training
Retreat participants also completed Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate (ALICE) training. The program covers the five steps to take in the case of an active shooter or threat. During the training, caregivers worked through practical scenarios that utilized each of the principles learned so they could understand the benefits of each strategy.
The program emphasized the importance of teamwork when overcoming a potential attacker and had caregivers work together in small teams to complete exercises. In addition, caregivers completed Management of Aggressive Behavior (MOAB) and self-defense training.
Together, our team can help keep CMH a safe place for everyone.