The purpose of hospital visits is to offer the patient and family members support and encouragement. Peer supporters can provide this in their own individual way, through tone of voice, personal appearance, skills as a good listener, sensitivity to the patient's or family members' view, personal diginity, compassion, understanding and respect for the patient's privacy.

Peer Supporter Policy

The success of the Peer Support Program (PSP) depends largely on how effective the peer supporters are in providing emotional support to the burn patients and their families. it is therefore important to define what is expected of the peer supporters and how they are to provide service to the patients and family members.

Role of the Peer Supporter
The role of the peer supporter is to provide emotional support and information to the burn patient and their families through one to one visits.

The peer supporters provide a specialised contribution to the Burns Unit. As members of that group, the peer supporters abide by the guidelines of the Burns Unit.
 
The following guidelines are specific requirements for entry into the Peer Support Program.

Qualifications of Peer Supporter
In order to participate in the program, all peer supporter candidates must meet the following qualifications.

• Experienced a burn injury, either as a patient or supportive significant other ("family" member).
• Be at least 1 year post burn injury.
• Have had application reviewed and approved according to program guidelines.
• Have successfully completed the PSP training.
• Participated in follow up meetings.

Responsibilities
The peer supporter who visits patients is expected to be familiar with and abide by the guidelines of the Burns Unit. In addition, the peer supporter is expected to assume the following responsibilities:

• Be available for peer activities.
• After accepting a visit assignment, be completely responsible for all aspects of follow-up, including patient reports, phone calls and repeat visits.
• Be willing to undertake additional duties to maintain an effective program, such as attending meetings and in service programs.
• Maintain a good relationship with hospital staff and observe all rules set forth for volunteer visits in the hospital.

Ethics

• Maintain confidentially about all aspects of the visit.
• Not recommend or endorse a specific physican, group of physicians or medical institution.
• Not make personal or medical comparisons, other than supporting the proscribed mode of treatment.
• Always respect the patient's right to privacy and their right to make decisions about treament.
• Not endorse or represent any commercial product or service, but may inform patients of the various commercial items that are available.

Source of referral
Hospial visit requests are made by the Burns Unit Medical, Nursing or Social Work staff. Suggestions for visits may also come from other sources, including family members or other health professionals involved in the patient's care.

Do's and Dont's of Visits

• Visits are made only with the approval or awareness of the Burns Unit staff.
• Visitor does not answer medical questions.
• Visitor refers all medical concerns and questions to the Burns Unit staff.
• Visitor never recommends physicians or services.
• Visitor maintains strict confidence regarding all aspects of the visit.
• Visitor does not judge or advise the patient.
• Visitor does not initate any conversations of a possible controversial nature.
• Visitor must be aware that the primary concern is the welfare of the patient. The visit should not be merely self-servicing for the visitor.
• Vistor's image is important to the rehabilitation of the patient. The visitor should therefore pay special attention to grooming and general appearance.

 Click HERE if you would like to request a visit or HERE to register to become a Peer Supporter