We are building the case for investment in trauma-informed care and vicarious/secondary trauma prevention/intervention at our healthcare institution. Have any of you estimated the cost to your healthcare institution of NOT addressing this issue?
1. Trauma Informed Care:
I understand there is much literature about ACEs and ACEs association with suicidality, adult un/underemployment, academic challenges, homelessness, poor health, premature death, etc. And we are all aware that our patient populations bring with them both past traumas as well as any acute trauma that may have occurred in relation to the reason they are seeking care (e.g., gunshot wound, sexual assault, etc.).
Has anyone attempted to calculate the cost (to their institution) of not operating with trauma-informed care principles at their institution? Example: a social worker identified sexual assault in the early life of a patient with opioid addiction who has been in and out of recovery for years. Prior healthcare and behavioral health treatment providers (ours or other) never inquired about ACEs and other past traumas and the patient never connected that past assault with his SUD. Once identified, the patient sought treatment for the early life trauma. What costs did the institution incur by not previously identifying a significant factor in this patient's SUD or could we incur by not understanding the impact of this past trauma on the patient.
2. Same question for vicarious/secondary trauma prevention/treatment? Have you calculated the cost of burnout, attrition, to your institution?
Thank you for any thoughts or guidance!
Mary
