Caring for the Caregivers in Laos

The Global Health Program partnered with Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC) since it opened in February 2015. LFHC was launched with the intent of establishing a locally sustainable hospital by and for the Lao people. Since its opening as an outpatient clinic, LFHC has grown rapidly into a multi-department, international- standard pediatric hospital. The Global Health Program partnered with LFHC to assist this growth in many different ways, including support provided by Emma Cardeli, PhD, a Clinical Psychologist from the Trauma and Community Resilience Center at Boston Children's Hospital. Dr. Cardeli conducted a needs assessment to enhance LFHC's understanding of programmatic and clinical stressors in addition to resilience levers. Dr. Cardeli developed a framework for a multi-tiered program for hospital staff, taking into account culturally specific needs. Multi-level interventions were delivered throughout the hospital in accordance with this framework, with the goal of creating an organizational culture that encourages collaboration and compassion at the staff and patient level. Dr. Cardeli worked with LFHC to build capacity for a multi-tiered, wellness program that included resources for staff struggling with mental health needs.