The 3 "Es", 4 "Rs" and 6 Principles of Trauma Informed Care: Part 2 in a Series

In the first part of this series I discussed the research on the impact of Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) and Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) on the ability of our Recovering Workers (RW) to actively participate and adhere to their treatment plan post-injury, and the need to begin to utilize a Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) Model. 

To review, a minority of workers with work-related injuries experience challenges returning to work. Early developmental trauma, including child abuse, neglect, violence persisting into adulthood, and drug misuse are only some of the examples of triggers that can create a sense of fear, helplessness, and overwhelm a person’s resources for coping, self-regulation, and perception of control, interpersonal relationships and self-efficacy. 

In Part 2, I would like to share some research that imbues the TIC model. 

The 3 E’s of Trauma

Include traumatic events, the individual’s experience of these events and the long-lasting adverse effects of the events. These may occur immediately or may have a delayed onset. The duration can be short to long term. These can be some of the non-work-related, preexisting conditions that can impact a successful return to work. In the workers’ compensation industry, we are just beginning to learn about SDOH and ACE, and the need to address these issues as they impact our RWs. 

As I tend to be a pragmatist, while I love to learn new things, I also like to think of how they apply, and how to use this knowledge to improve a process. I haven’t seen a lot of information on how this is to be accomplished within our industry. A solution I proposed in Part 1 was to provide TIC. The next question is HOW do we apply TIC in the workers’ compensation industry? 

The 4 ‘R’s” are Key Assumptions in a Trauma-Informed Approach.

All people at all levels in an organization or system have a basic realization about trauma and understand how trauma can affect families, groups, organizations, and communities as well as individuals.

“A program, organization, or system that is trauma-informed realizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for recovery; recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff, and others involved with the system; and responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices, and seeks to actively resist re-traumatization.”

TIC involves understanding, anticipating and responding to the issues, expectations, and special needs that a person who has been victimized may have in a setting. At a minimum, TIC services endeavor to do no harm - to avoid retraumatizing or blaming for their efforts to manage their traumatic reactions. It is a philosophical/ cultural stance that integrates awareness and understanding of trauma.

Universal Trauma Precautions (Trauma Awareness) 

1. Assume that all people and connected persons with whom you are working are coping with the effects of trauma and modify your practice accordingly.
2. Recognizing how your organization, your program, your environment, and your practice could potentially act as a trauma trigger.
3. Recognize that you may also have experienced trauma yourself, and you may be triggered by client responses and behavior.

Six Guiding Principles to a Trauma-Informed Approach

In Part 3 of this series I’ll explore methods to implement the principles of TIC through the case management process.

By Linda VanDillen

Linda VanDillen is Vice President of Communications and Quality at CompAlliance, passionate about the opioid crisis and the cost to society. Researching cost drivers in workers' compensation and case management methods to mitigate these cost drivers. Working to improve outcomes for both the employer and the injured worker.

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