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Code Lavender: A culture of caring for caregivers expands across Sentara
A growing initiative provides emotional support and healing resources for caregivers navigating traumatic and high-stress events.
In health care, moments of crisis are part of the job. Clinicians move quickly from one patient to the next, often without time to process what they’ve just experienced. Over time, those moments can affect team members physically, mentally, and emotionally.
On occasion there are traumatic incidents that are felt deeply and call for a special response. At Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (SNVMC) in Woodbridge, Virginia, the response is a program called Code Lavender.
“We experience things on a day-to-day basis that most people cannot fathom,” says The Rev. Dr. Ruth Anne Sawyer, supervisor of Chaplaincy Services and Decedent Affairs and Ethics at SNVMC. “We finish one case, move on to the next… and we keep going. But eventually, that takes a toll.”
“Code Blue resuscitates your heart,” Sawyer explained. “Code Lavender resuscitates your mind, body, and spirit.”
Why lavender? The lavender plant was used in ancient medicine and is known for its calming properties, according to Hoy. It has become a symbol for stress relief.
Originally pioneered at the Cleveland Clinic, Code Lavender has evolved into a form of support offering an immediate, compassionate response that helps staff process difficult experiences and regain stability.
At SNVMC, the program was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when stress, burnout, and emotional fatigue across healthcare teams reached unprecedented levels.
“It’s a way to get people through the moment,” Sawyer says. “To acknowledge what happened, to remind them they’re not alone, and to connect them with support if they need it.”
Code Lavender activations can happen for a range of situations such as the death of a patient—particularly the loss of an infant or child—or intense clinical cases, or the loss of a coworker.
“Sometimes it’s an entire department,” Sawyer noted. “Sometimes a smaller team or unit, or it can be just one person who needs someone to sit with them and say, ‘I see you’.”
Inspired by the positive response from teams at SNVMC, Code Lavender has recently been implemented at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville. In addition, there are plans to roll it out at Sentara RMH Medical Center in Harrisonburg, expanding access to compassionate support for caregivers across the health system.
“Code Lavender represents a holistic approach to health care. It is something deeply meaningful and impactful to our teams and serves as a reminder that healthcare is not only clinical, but deeply human,” said Esther Golda Lozano Otis, team coordinator of patient care services at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital.
The growth of Code Lavender across Sentara reflects a shared commitment to supporting the people who provide care every day. By creating intentional moments of connection, compassion, and healing, the program reinforces an important message: Caring for our patients begins with caring for one another.
“This work is sacred,” Sawyer said. “We take care of people from the heart. But we have to take care of our own hearts, too.”
Code Lavender is helping make that possible—one moment, one team, and one act of compassion at a time.
On occasion there are traumatic incidents that are felt deeply and call for a special response. At Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (SNVMC) in Woodbridge, Virginia, the response is a program called Code Lavender.
“We experience things on a day-to-day basis that most people cannot fathom,” says The Rev. Dr. Ruth Anne Sawyer, supervisor of Chaplaincy Services and Decedent Affairs and Ethics at SNVMC. “We finish one case, move on to the next… and we keep going. But eventually, that takes a toll.”
What is Code Lavender?
Much like a Code Blue mobilizes a team to respond to a cardiac emergency, Code Lavender is designed to support the emotional and psychological well-being of healthcare teams following a traumatic or high-stress event.“Code Blue resuscitates your heart,” Sawyer explained. “Code Lavender resuscitates your mind, body, and spirit.”
Why lavender? The lavender plant was used in ancient medicine and is known for its calming properties, according to Hoy. It has become a symbol for stress relief.
Originally pioneered at the Cleveland Clinic, Code Lavender has evolved into a form of support offering an immediate, compassionate response that helps staff process difficult experiences and regain stability.
At SNVMC, the program was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when stress, burnout, and emotional fatigue across healthcare teams reached unprecedented levels.
A bridge through difficult moments
Code Lavender is not counseling or long-term therapy. Instead, it serves as a bridge helping caregivers move from a traumatic event back to their work, home, or additional support resources.“It’s a way to get people through the moment,” Sawyer says. “To acknowledge what happened, to remind them they’re not alone, and to connect them with support if they need it.”
Code Lavender activations can happen for a range of situations such as the death of a patient—particularly the loss of an infant or child—or intense clinical cases, or the loss of a coworker.
“Sometimes it’s an entire department,” Sawyer noted. “Sometimes a smaller team or unit, or it can be just one person who needs someone to sit with them and say, ‘I see you’.”
What happens during a Code Lavender?
When a Code Lavender is called—typically by a charge nurse or supervisor—the chaplaincy team mobilizes a response.
The team creates a dedicated space, often marked with a purple butterfly sign on the door, and brings in the Code Lavender cart stocked with comfort items. The goal is simple: provide a moment of pause, reflection, and care.
The experience may include:
- Snacks, coffee, and hydration (“Food is love,” Sawyer said)
- Stress-relief tools like fidget items, sensory strips, and coloring materials
- Aromatherapy and calming techniques
- Encouragement cards and mindfulness resources
- Visits from Hope, the program’s therapy dog
- Access to chaplains, peer support, and community clergy
Each element is intentional. “People process trauma differently,” Sawyer explained. “We try to meet them where they are.”
Equally important is connecting staff to ongoing support, such as the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), for those who need additional care beyond the moment.
Building a culture of support across Sentara
Since launching in late 2022, Code Lavender at SNVMC has supported dozens of team members across multiple units, with activations continuing to grow as awareness increases. The program reflects a broader shift in health care, recognizing that those who care for others also need care themselves.Inspired by the positive response from teams at SNVMC, Code Lavender has recently been implemented at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville. In addition, there are plans to roll it out at Sentara RMH Medical Center in Harrisonburg, expanding access to compassionate support for caregivers across the health system.
“Code Lavender represents a holistic approach to health care. It is something deeply meaningful and impactful to our teams and serves as a reminder that healthcare is not only clinical, but deeply human,” said Esther Golda Lozano Otis, team coordinator of patient care services at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital.
The growth of Code Lavender across Sentara reflects a shared commitment to supporting the people who provide care every day. By creating intentional moments of connection, compassion, and healing, the program reinforces an important message: Caring for our patients begins with caring for one another.
“This work is sacred,” Sawyer said. “We take care of people from the heart. But we have to take care of our own hearts, too.”
Code Lavender is helping make that possible—one moment, one team, and one act of compassion at a time.
By: Jon Radulovic