Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

Special Incidents or Catastrophic Events are divided in two sub-categories: Critical and Non-Critical. Critical Incidents can be on-site deaths, rapes, violent incidents, shootings, traumatic episodes, robberies, and muggings, as well as disruptive behaviors that would occur on or off-site involving an employee or a contracting organization. These incidents must be responded to, and reported on, promptly. Other situations such as threats or acts of violence to one's self or others, harassment, and natural or manmade disasters are sensitive and must be responded to, and reported promptly.

Non-Critical Incidents include events that would be considered unusual, but do not qualify as Critical Incidents. Examples may include thefts, break-ins, security violations, problems with equipment or physical facilities, interactions in sensitive situations, or behavior by anyone that could be considered inappropriate. These types of incidents should be reported following the reporting procedure for Non-Critical Incidents.

Incidents of trauma that adversely impact on the workplace are occurring with increasing frequency and severity. A broad range of events are identified as critical incidents/catastrophic and are generally categorized into two types:

Natural and Man-made;

1. Natural disasters are events such as earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, fires and mass disasters, such as airplane crashes - called 'Acts-of-God' and outside the control of man.
2. Man-made incidents are deliberate and intentional and include fatal accidents, suicides, homicides, bomb threats and bombings, and other workplace violence.

The prevalence of critical incidents has necessitated a proactive response on the part of many organizations. These organizations are developing 'crisis plans' in order to be better prepared in the event of a traumatic event.

As a leader in the Employee Assistance field, HMSA has carefully engineered an internal Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team. This team of HMSA Professionals has received advanced training in Dr. Jeffrey Mitchell's CISD model. HMSA's internal team of qualified debriefing specialists is available through one call to corporate headquarters and is capable of being dispatched to an organization or site within hours of notification. The HMSA CISM team strategically plans and implements the appropriate critical incident stress response. HMSA is experienced in critical incident stress management and has worked with the US Postal Service, other governmental agencies and private companies during and after critical incidents. HMSA has assisted its clients to respond to many disasters, including the well publicized shootings at postal sites in Royal Oak, Dearborn and Montclair, New Jersey, and in the recent hurricanes in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. HMSA's experience goes well beyond these publicized incidents, but client confidentiality precludes their inclusion here.

HMSA recognizes the terminal objective of critical incident intervention is to help employees recover from the trauma of the incident and to return to normal functioning as quickly and completely as possible. Toward that end, HMSA's critical incident stress response is designed to effectively intervene in critical situations, thereby mitigating the negative impact of acute stress on the individual and related loss of workplace productivity.