XCenter: Module 4

Understanding and Recognizing Trauma in a Healthcare Setting

This session is focused on help advocates and patients understand how to healthcare systems recognize and treat trauma. We will explore the difference between toxic stress and traumatic stress and its potential after effects. Participants will also learn the roots of trauma and specific questions to ask at the beginning of a provider visit.

Learning Objectives:

1) Language and skills to identify trauma to help in navigating care

2) What some health care systems are doing to address trauma

3) How patient advocates can help patients avoid creating additional trauma when navigating care

About The Presenter:

Dr. Annie Lewis-O’Connor is a Pediatric and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. She is the Founder and Director of the C.A.R.E Clinic (Caring Approach to Resilience & Empowerment) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. This clinic is committed to providing patient centered and trauma-informed health care to people who have been intentionally harmed by trauma, violence and abuse.

Dr. Lewis-O’Connor addresses violence from four pillars: Research, Policy, Education, and Clinical practice. Dr. Lewis-O’Connor is published in peer-reviewed journals and academic books on the topic of violence against women and children, trauma-informed care, and the effects of trauma, violence and abuse on health. Her current research is focused on measuring Trauma-Informed Care models of care in adult health care settings and exploration of best ‘screening’ (inquiry) methods for trauma, violence and abuse.

Since 2012 Annie has served as Co-Chair of the Committee on Trauma- Informed Care. She served as Chair of the National Health Collaborative on Violence and Abuse advancing policy and clinical practice for survivors of violence and abuse. She is a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar alumna. She received her Master’s in nursing from Simmons College in Boston, Master’s in public health from Boston University and her PhD from Boston College.