Hospitals across the country are embracing an innovative concept in healthcare that has the potential to significantly reduce costs and improve outcomes. Requiring relatively little funding and offering proven results, administrators are identifying ways to implement the approach throughout their organizations. Its name? Empathy. 

 
Although you may chuckle at my dramatization (and I hope you do), empathy hasn't always been viewed with priority in health care sectors beyond those you and I serve. But evidence is mounting to show its positive impact. More than just good bedside manner, clinical empathy is "the act of correctly acknowledging the emotional state of another without experiencing that state oneself." Multiple studies show a direct correlation between empathy and increased trust and satisfaction. 

At Smoky, our values shape our approach to everything we do. No value is of greater importance than person-centeredness, and in no service area is that value more evident than our peer support specialist program. Interacting with compassion, honesty and empathy, Smoky's peer support specialists foster a culture of health, hope and ability. I believe they are among the greatest teachers to come into our system. 

Recognizing the vital role peer support specialists play in an individual's recovery journey, Smoky was the first MCO in North Carolina to develop and implement its own curriculum for peer support specialist training. Smoky's 40-hour training is designed to meet the guidelines set forth by North Carolina's Certified Peer Support Specialist Program. The Program's approval of our curriculum represents confirmation that the content meets or exceeds all of the current core competency requirements for training peer support specialist candidates in North Carolina. Our program covers a variety of topics, including commitment to personal recovery, relationship building and communication, ethics and boundaries, support of military veterans and overcoming barriers. 

By the end of this month, more than 60 individuals from throughout our catchment area will complete Smoky's peer support specialist training, bringing them one step closer to becoming a specialist, one step closer to becoming a mentor, one step closer to becoming an inspiration. What an incredible way to start the New Year! 

Smiling to your heart this holiday season,

Christina

For more information on Smoky's peer support specialist training, visit our website. Watch the video below to learn more about North Carolina's Peer Support Specialist Program. 

NC Certified Peer Support Specialist Program