Who are the Peer Supporters? What do they offer?
Peer Supporters are your colleagues who were nominated and selected for this role because they are trusted by others and good listeners. They are trained to understand the need to maintain confidentiality and appropriate boundaries while providing one-on-one confidential, emotional support as well as referrals to other support services within UW Medicine or the community as needed.
How does someone become a Peer Supporter?
If you’d like to nominate one of your colleagues as a Peer Supporter, please complete a nomination form. We welcome nominations for Peer Supporters representing a variety of disciplines and services within the UW Medicine system. To learn more about the role of the Peer Supporter, please see the role description document under the resources section.
When would I access a Peer Supporter?
The Peer to Peer Program is here to support any member of our healthcare teams. You could need support after a patient passes away, when you are involved in an adverse event, or after a difficult interaction with a colleague. It might be that it feels hard to come to work and you are experiencing burnout or are finding less joy in your work. The Peer to Peer Program is here to help!
How do I access a Peer Supporter?
The easiest way to access the Peer to Peer Program is to submit a request form here. You can use this form to request peer support for yourself or to refer someone in need. In addition, after a known difficult clinical event, as a matter of routine, involved care team members may be contacted and offered peer support.
How will I be contacted?
A Staff Support Specialist* will contact you (or the person you referred) to match to a Peer Supporter or refer to the appropriate staff support service. The peer support match is based on UW Medicine entity, area of practice or department, clinical background, and availability. A designated peer supporter, who will only be given contact information, will contact the person in need of support to discuss how and when they would like to meet.
*Process may vary by entity/site
What happens next?
You can decide to speak on the phone or meet in person with the Peer Supporter. This is usually a one-time event but can include an occasional follow-up or referral to additional support. You will also be offered a basic information and resource brochure.
What should I expect from the one on one session?
In this session, you will meet with a colleague who understands the unique challenges of a career in healthcare. Their job is to listen and offer support, as opposed to review the details of an event or provide counseling. The Peer Supporter is someone to be there as you navigate a difficult time or situation.
Is this confidential?
Yes, the Peer Supporters maintain confidentiality (unless there are safety concerns for you, another individual, or a patient). When you meet with a Peer Supporter, the only people who will know that a conversation took place are you, the Peer Supporter, and the Staff Support Specialist.
Have you already experienced a peer support interaction?
If you have received peer support, please complete this anonymous survey with your feedback from the experience. Your feedback will help us improve the program.