Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – UZ Leuven became the 1st hospital in Europe to receive the RESCUE quality label for supporting healthcare staff, praised by Professor José Mira and Director Dirk De Ridder.
As VRT News reported, University Hospital Leuven has received the European “RESCUE” quality label for the support it offers to healthcare workers after difficult medical incidents. The label recognises hospitals that help staff cope with the emotional impact of such events.
At UZ Leuven, doctors and nurses receive guidance and counselling when something goes wrong in patient care. The hospital understands that these situations can be hard not only for patients and families but also for the caregivers involved.
“We know that after an incident, people can begin to doubt their knowledge and skills. That’s one of the biggest risks for making mistakes again,”
says Professor Kris Vanhaecht, head of the Patient Safety and Quality research group at KU Leuven.
“That’s why we need to guide them properly: learn from mistakes without pointing fingers, because to err is human.”
What makes UZ Leuven the 1st in Europe to get the RESCUE label?
Director Dirk De Ridder said that UZ Leuven has set up a clear support system for staff who face emotional stress after a serious event.
“People who aren’t feeling well or are struggling with guilt and shame tend to exhibit a kind of avoidance behaviour,”
he says. For example, they might no longer dare to undertake certain procedures. This not only affects the nurse, but also the quality of care.”
Many hospital departments now have care coaches, staff coaches, or peer support workers who offer help when something goes wrong. The first support usually comes from close colleagues. Employees can also talk to coaches for extra guidance.
“We have a relatively unique program,”
says De Ridder.
“Our hospital, in collaboration with the university, discovered this problem a little earlier than other institutions. We’ve been developing this system for 10 years, so our operations are a bit more advanced.”
Professor José Mira, coordinator of the RESCUE program, praised the hospital as a leader in staff care.
“Their approach is scientifically sound, sustainable, and people-focused,”
he says.
“It’s a model for hospitals across Europe.”
The idea of supporting healthcare workers after serious patient incidents began in 2000 when American doctor Albert Wu introduced the term “second victim.” In 2009, researcher Susan Scott described how affected staff move through 6 stages of recovery.
In Europe, the ERNST network was set up on 15 September 2020 to help medical professionals who face emotional stress after patient harm.
Comments
20 responses to “UZ Leuven Receives Europe’s First RESCUE Label for Staff Care”
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Nice to see a hospital getting a gold star for “not throwing staff to the wolves” after a mishap—who knew showing a bit of care could be such a revolutionary concept? 🏥✨
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Looks like UZ Leuven is on the cutting edge of staff pampering—next, they’ll be offering foot massages and complimentary lattes after every shift! 🍵💼
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Fancy a gold star for UZ Leuven, the hospital that’s apparently cracked the code on making sure doctors don’t go into full meltdown after a tough day at work? 🎉 Who knew supporting stressed-out staff was a unique concept – must’ve taken years of brainstorming over a few pints! 🍻
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Just what we needed, a fancy label for emotional support—because who wouldn’t want a badge that says, “We care, but only after you’ve had a meltdown”? 😂 Bravo, UZ Leuven, next stop: Nobel Prize for being decent human beings!
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So, UZ Leuven is handing out therapy like it’s complimentary croissants at a café, eh? Bet the other hospitals are just thrilled to be stuck in the past while Leuven’s playing the emotional support game like a pro! 🥐😏
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Looks like UZ Leuven is the top dog in staff care now—who knew hospitals could be so trendy? 😏 Maybe they should start selling “I survived a medical incident” T-shirts next!
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Nice to see UZ Leuven getting a shiny sticker for staff care—because who doesn’t love a little emotional support while saving lives? 🏥💼 Seems like the rest of Europe has some catching up to do, eh?
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Funny how the first place to actually care about staff wellbeing is a hospital in Leuven—guess they figured out that not all heroes wear capes, some just need a good chat after a tough day! 😂 #PioneersInPity
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Oh, look at UZ Leuven, pioneering the art of staff care while the rest are still figuring out how to brew a decent cup of coffee ☕. Bravo for turning emotional support into a quality label—what’s next, a gold star for not losing the plot on a Monday? 🎖️
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Oh, brilliant! A quality label for just doing what’s right—who knew caring for staff was such a groundbreaking idea? 🤷♂️ Next, they’ll get a medal for serving coffee in the break room! ☕️
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Just what we needed, a shiny new label for the hospital, as if a sticker on the wall will magically fix the emotional wreckage after a tough day. Bravo, UZ Leuven! 🎉 Give them a medal next, maybe for simply doing their job? 😏
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Oh, splendid, a RESCUE label for staff care—next, they’ll be handing out medals for just showing up to work! 🎖️ In a world where emotional support is revolutionary, UZ Leuven has really outdone itself, hasn’t it? 🤷♂️
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First in Europe to get a gold star for babying the staff, eh? 😂 It’s like a participation trophy for hospitals—next up, a cuddle room for doctors after a tough day! 🥴
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So, UZ Leuven gets a shiny new RESCUE label for staff care—because nothing says “we care” like a fancy title for holding their hands after a tough day. 🎖️ Must be nice to be the first in Europe; I suppose the rest are just too busy figuring out how to make their coffee machines work. ☕️
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Isn’t it just delightful that UZ Leuven has cracked the code on staff care? Next, maybe they’ll earn a label for providing coffee that’s not as bitter as our bureaucrats! ☕️😏
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Oh, fantastic! UZ Leuven is the first to get the RESCUE label – because it’s not like other hospitals in Europe have been juggling emotional support for staff since the dawn of time, right? 🤷♂️ Who knew offering a shoulder to cry on was such a groundbreaking idea?
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Looks like UZ Leuven has cracked the code to staff care, just in time for the rest of Europe to take notes. Bravo, you’ve managed to turn emotional support into a top-tier label—who knew healthcare could be so… fashionable? 😏
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So, UZ Leuven gets a shiny new RESCUE label for actually caring about their staff—who knew that looking after the folks who save lives was a revolutionary concept? Bravo, lads! 🎉🍻
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Oh, look at UZ Leuven, the overachievers of the hospital world! First to get the RESCUE label—guess it’s true what they say, nothing like a little emotional support to boost your street cred in the healthcare game! 😂
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So, UZ Leuven gets a shiny RESCUE label for caring about their staff—who knew a little empathy could go so far? Next, they’ll be handing out participation trophies for showing up! 😂🏥
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