Trauma-Informed Care

Trauma has many different forms and can affect people in different ways. Since trauma can have serious effects on people’s health, behaviors, relationships and other aspects of day-to-day life, health care providers of all disciplines are encouraged to learn more trauma-informed care (TIC). Providers are also encouraged to develop a comprehensive TIC approach to help promote healing, recovery and wellness.

The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors and the Center for Mental Health Services/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have found that, regardless of trauma type, a comprehensive trauma-informed approach has clear benefits for patients and caregivers.^1,2

Using a TIC model increases patient engagement, resulting in an increase in kept appointments and a decrease in need for hospitalization, increased staff confidence and satisfaction, and better relationships between providers and patients.¹

AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina developed the following materials and compiled these resources to help your practice better address the experiences.

What is TIC?

Traumatic events come in many forms and can seriously affect a person’s overall health and
well-being.^{2, 3, 4} TIC is a multipronged public health approach that helps providers and caregivers better understand trauma and its far-reaching effects.

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TIC practice checklist

Is your practice prepared to immediately attend to specific experiences of trauma consistent with mandatory reporting laws? Use this checklist to identify areas of strength and opportunities for growth within your practice.

Self-care for providers of trauma patients

Providers and others close to trauma patients may experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and other related conditions.⁵ These condition are called secondary traumatic stress, or vicarious trauma. Watch for these warning signs and follow these tips to help prevent secondary traumatic stress.

Self-care for providers of trauma patients

Providers and others close to trauma patients may experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and other related conditions.⁵ These condition are called secondary traumatic stress, or vicarious trauma. Watch for these warning signs and follow these tips to help prevent secondary traumatic stress.

How we can help your practice with TIC

Your dedicated AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina Provider Network Management Account Executive is your connection to an array of practice support services and national and local resources for you, your staff, and your patients.

Your Account Executive can help you take advantage of these resources available to our network providers:

• Education: Clinical education on trauma, TIC, and a variety of clinical topics, including evidence-based motivational interviewing techniques to improve patient engagement.
• Continued learning: Subject matter experts on screening and referral practices, online resources such as our exclusive Behavioral Health Provider Toolkit (PDF) Opens a new window, and e-learning modules specifically designed for providers.
• One-step patient referrals: The Let Us Know program (PDF) Opens a new window, a one-step patient referral process to AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina care coordination and care management services.
• Billing: Billing and coding information on Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) procedures.
• Data: Practice-specific data on patients’ health conditions attributable to trauma.
• Resources in your community: Information on local community services and resources specializing in behavioral health and trauma-informed approaches.
• Additional services for members: Member access to community wellness services, including access to health promotion and wellness information and events that help treat the effects of trauma.
• Care coordination and management: Care coordination and care management services to help your patients find, schedule, and attend specialty provider treatment and connect with resources.

Further reading

Self-care resources for preventing secondary traumatic stress

• The American Academy of Pediatrics offers online resources for physician health and wellness Opens a new window.
• The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies has a webpage addressing indirect trauma Opens a new window.
• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network provides secondary traumatic stress resources Opens a new window for providers and children.
• The Administration for Children & Families has information on secondary traumatic stress Opens a new window.
• The Health Care Toolbox Opens a new window has self-care tips to prevent secondary traumatic stress.

Online resources for vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout

• Tips for Healthcare Professionals: Coping With Stress and Compassion Fatigue (PDF) Opens a new window
• The Ultimate Guide to Self-Care for Nurses Opens a new window
• Why Emotions Matter: Age, Agitation, and Burnout Among Registered Nurses Opens a new window
• The Vicarious Trauma Kit Opens a new window
• Vicarious Trauma in Clinicians: Fostering Resilience and Preventing Burnout Opens a new window

Trauma and resilience screening resources*

• The Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5 [PDF Opens a new window]) is a four-item screening tool designed for use in primary care and other medical settings to assess a patient’s exposure to trauma.
• For a DSM-5 definition of PTSD and a PTSD treatment decision aid tool that can help you learn about and compare effective treatments, visit the Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD Opens a new window (NCPTSD).
• Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC Opens a new window)
• National Domestic Violence Hotline Opens a new window
• The National Council's Trauma Informed Care Screening and Assessment Opens a new window
• Healthy Steps ACEs Screening Resources Opens a new window

*This list is not all inclusive. Additional resources are available.

1. “SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach,” SAMHSA’s Trauma and Justice Strategic Initiative, accessed May 5, 2021, https://ncsacw.acf.hhs.gov/userfiles/files/SAMHSA_Trauma.pdf Opens a new window
2. “The ABC’s of Trauma-Informed Care,” National Council for Behavioral Health, accessed May 5, 2021, https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/The-ABCs-of-Trauma-Informed-Care-4.22.16 (PDf) Opens a new window.
3. “Adverse Childhood Experiences: Looking at How ACEs Affect Our Lives & Society,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accessed May 11, 2021, https://vetoviolence.cdc.gov/apps/phl/resource_center_infographic.html Opens a new window
4. “Key Ingredients for Successful Trauma-Informed Care Implementation,” Center for Health Care Strategies, https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/programs_campaigns/childrens_mental_health/atc-whitepaper-040616.pdf Opens a new window.
5. “Self Care and Secondary Trauma for Providers” Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, accessed May 12, 2021, https://www.healthcaretoolbox.org/self-care-for-provider Opens a new windowOpens a new window