Clinical Pearl

Thank you to Daniel Boron-Brenner, DO for presenting on ED serious event debriefing at our January 8^th Meeting

The following is an adaptation of some concepts he presented in addition to other literature resources and ACEP resources.

ED Serious Event Debriefing: Pause • Normalize • Name

Supporting teams after unexpected deaths, pediatric loss, and catastrophic injury

The 5–10 Minute ED Hot Debrief

1. Pause the system

“Let’s take two minutes before we move on.”

2. Normalize reactions

Strong emotional responses are normal after events like this.

3. Name what was difficult

Ask: “What was the hardest part of that case?”

4. Acknowledge effort and intent

Name the skill, care, and compassion shown.

5. Close with support

Encourage reaching out if the event lingers.

Pediatric death and catastrophic injury hit differently. Even 30–60 seconds of acknowledgment reduces distress and moral injury.

ACEP Wellness Resources

Scan for peer support, resilience tools, and clinician wellness resources.