Question:
Does The Joint Commission require EAPs after a sentinel event in order to be able to provide counseling services to employees involved?
Answer:
About 80% of large employers offer EAP services to employees. Typical functions involve confidential counseling on a wide variety of mental health issues that may be affecting performance. Commonly, this involves substance abuse, workplace conflicts, depression, etc.
TJC does not mandate EAP, but EAP is a vehicle that might be used to provide services to employees. Standards that might be involved include leadership standards relative to management of conflict, MS chapter medical staff referrals for substance abuse or mental health concerns, employee health screening as required by HR or IC standards, diversion of controlled substances, etc. Also, the counseling that might be needed after a sentinel event.
During tracers, standard questions about how you address drug diversion, sentinel events, worker burn out, your culture of safety survey, your employee engagement survey results might lead to discussion about EAP, or in the absence of EAP what alternative methods you have.
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