The Great Reconnection: Restorative Justice as Remedy for Fragmented Healthcare Communities

• Published in: Families systems & health 2024-09, Vol.42 (3), p.333-342
• Main Authors: Yarboi, Janet, Bersted, Kyle A., Behel, Jay M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Burnout, Professional - prevention & control; Burnout, Professional - psychology; Communities; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 - psychology; Female; Health Personnel; Health Personnel - psychology; Human; Humans; Inclusion; Male; Psychological Safety; Restorative Justice; Social Connectedness; Social Justice; Well Being; Workplace - psychology; Workplace - standards
• ISSN: 1091-7527; 1939-0602; 1939-0602
• DOI: 10.1037/fsh0000904

Introduction: Exacerbated by a global pandemic, healthcare organizations have become increasingly isolated spaces and healthcare professionals suffer from threats to psychological safety, occupational burnout, and attrition. Restorative justice (RJ) is a human- and community-centered framework used to foster connections and promote healing among groups and has recently been implemented in healthcare settings. It may serve as a novel approach to promote the well-being of healthcare professionals. Method: In this article, we describe the conceptual underpinnings of RJ, briefly reviewing the existing literature supporting restorative approaches and exploring its early applications within healthcare. We provide a case example of our own efforts to implement an RJ program to support healthcare professionals. Results: Using our own program as reference, we describe how we have monitored engagement to guide program improvement and utilized participant feedback to understand impact. Discussion: RJ offers unique potential for promoting a safe workplace for healthcare professionals and advancing inclusion in medicine. With regularly implemented restorative practices, we hope to effect lasting change within our institution (i.e., improved retention), which should be explored with future studies. In order to improve the health of diverse communities we serve, we must also prioritize the well-being of our own healthcare communities. Public Significance StatementBy examining restorative justice as an approach to promote healthier, safer environments for clinicians and other healthcare workers, this article contributes to the ongoing conversation about inclusive and innovative solutions to a critical issue in medicine. It offers a fresh perspective on program development at the departmental and institutional levels with an even wider potential to transform healthcare workplace cultures.