Parris RJ, Schlosenberg J, Stanley C, Maurice S, Clarke SFJ. Emergency department follow-up of bereaved relatives: an audit of one particular service.
Emerg Med J 2007;
24:339-42. [PMID:
17452701 PMCID:
PMC2658479 DOI:
10.1136/emj.2006.042671]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/19/2007] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Although much has been written about the treatment of bereaved relatives in emergency departments, very little has been published about their follow-up after they have left the department.
METHODS
One model of follow-up is described, in which relatives are invited to a meeting in the department 4-6 weeks after their loss. In this model, it is emphasised that the follow-up is not a counselling session but an opportunity to ask questions, and an audit of the service is presented.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
It is suggested that the provision of information is theoretically beneficial to the bereavement process.
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