Health, Wellness and Urgent Support Services

EMSS in Medical Affairs supports medical leaders who may be asked to attend to concerns raised regarding professionalism or performance of medical staff.

EMSS supports and helps to resolve professional issues as they arise, and works proactively to enhance the capacity and ability of medical and other leaders across the organization to understand, manage and resolve concerns.

Please click here for additional information on the Enhanced Medical Staff Support (EMSS).

Resources include:

• A comprehensive EMSS Toolkit
• Respectful Workplace Procedures for Medical Staff, Resident Doctors and Medical Students (*Island Health Login Required*)

Island Health is committed to promoting a workplace that is physically, psychologically, and culturally safe for all individuals. In addition to the Respectful Workplace Procedures for Medical Staff, Resident Doctors and Medical Students (*Island Health Login Required*), EMSS has compiled a resource library highlighting tools and resources for psychological safety in the workplace for both leaders and individuals interested in promoting positive culture.

This library continues to evolve. If there are tools or supports that should be included please let us know.

	BC Patient Safety & Quality Council (BCPSQC) Culture Change Toolbox Tools, ideas, examples and exercises to promote positive changes in culture. Teamwork & Communication Action Series Five free and interactive sessions for teams of four to eight people to improve teamwork and communication skills through development of new skills and techniques. PEACH-BFV Conflict Management Tool A coaching or self-reflection tool for managing conflict in the workplace. BCPSQC provides many additional resources to improve culture and communication.
	Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) Good Practices Guide: Dealing with Conflict Resources and tools for addressing conflict in the workplace. Good Practices Guide: Psychological Safety Guidance on best practice for promoting psychological safety in the workplace including creating a psychologically safe culture. CMPA is a great resource for medical staff access to articles on physician wellness and resolving conflict.
	Mental Health Commission Caring for Healthcare A toolkit providing ideas and resources for implementing the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace in healthcare workplaces.
	Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) Understanding how Colleges handle complaints or allegations of professional misconduct.
	Canadian Medical Association Code of Ethics and Professionalism

Want to learn more about safety and reporting pathways at Island Health? Visit the Safety Hub.

Drop-in and share: COVID-19 Physician Peer Support Sessions Brief Program Overview

The Physician Health Program of British Columbia is here to support and advocate for BC physicians, resident doctors, and medical students, as well as their partners and dependent children. They help with a wide range of physical, mental, and relationship challenges.

 The Physician Health Program of BC helps physicians, trainees and their families by:

 Fostering an environment of health and wellness

Offering prompt, personalized help with issues including (but not limited to):

• Physical health
• Mental health and addictions
• Difficult relationships

Advocating for the individual and collective health of physicians.

 Please click here to review their confidentiality policy.

 For 24-hour, confidential support please call 1-800-663-6729 you will be connected immediately with a licensed clinical counsellor.

 Please click here for more details about the Physician Health Program.

The Mobile Response Team (a service of PHSA) is available 24/7 to support the mental well-being and psychological safety of frontline healthcare workers who are experiencing distress and mental health concerns in response to COVID-19.

Phone: 1-888-686-3022

Email: MRT@phsa.ca

Care for Care Givers is an online service that provides a diverse collection of resources to support the mental health of healthcare workers, including free webinars, daily coping tips, and mental health information. This website is a partnership between the Canadian Mental Health Association, SafeCare BC and the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions.

Click this link to access: Careforcaregivers

The Physician Health Program provides support, referrals and counselling for BC physicians, medical students and residents, as well as their partners and dependent children. 

	Stress First Aid Webinar Stress First Aid - Facilitator Guide Stress First Aid Workbook Stress First Aid - Key Points 7 C’s of Stress First Aid Stress Continuum
	Depression & Anxiety Care
	Trauma Care
	Managing Stress & Anxiety from COVID-19
	​Care for Care Givers

Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC partnered with the BC Psychological Association to provide confidential, free mental wellness support to nurse practitioners.

Request a support call today.

The Wellness Connection is a virtual space where physician peers can receive support and psychological first aid and participate in formal and informal peer support education and resources.

Island Health's Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) department offers a holistic approach to workplace health and safety through our Prevention and Disability Management programs. For more information, please click here.

If you are on site, and require immediate assistance, due to an imminent threat or danger, please call:

222 (Protection Services STAT line) 911 (internal or external) 18575 (non-urgent matters where you would like a “show of presence” as a de-escalation strategy) or 250-370-8575 (external call)

If you require immediate medical assistance, please go to the nearest Emergency department.  

Please click here to for more information. 

A Code White is an urgent and immediate request for assistance from staff (within a unit) to gather their team, as a result of an act of violence, or a threat of violence or aggression. For more information, please click here.

	COVID-19: Assessing Transmission Risk and Determining Appropriate Level of Intervention
	COVID-19: Infection and Prevention Control Guidance on Code White Response