[brian]

LEOMINSTER-- About 900 nurses and other personnel at HealthAlliance Hospital recently underwent training to detect, prevent and respond to cases of domestic violence among patients.

The training was paid for through an $82,000 grant the hospital received from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care last year.

"It's unheard of throughout the country," Joanne Tulonen, the executive director of Battered Women's Resources Inc., said of the mandatory instruction.
Just a week after training, which consisted of 18 sessions from August to September, staff members already made three referrals to Battered Women's Resources Inc., by calling the organization's hotline.

Full Story: http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/local/ci_3124962

[Soleilpie]

That is great! Domestic violence is the number one health risk to women. It causes more injuries than rapes, auto accidents, and muggings combined! Between 22%-35% of women who show up in the ER are there because of injuries or an illness related to domestic violence. It's unfortunate, but most of these victims don't get help for the domestic violence portion of the problem when they show up at a hospital. Only the injury itself is taken care of. If the health care profession gets more involved, it may help end domestic violence for some and may even prevent homicides and suicides from occurring. I really see it as the health care profession's job to get more involved. It's about preventing further injuries from occurring and even preventing death. It's no longer just a law enforcement issue. I say hurray for HealthAllianceHospital!

[nadja9]

Statistically, about 37% of women presenting in the ER are there with DV related injuries. In some hospitals/areas, the figure is approximately 50%. It is imperative that nurses, particularly those in ER and OB, are trained in DV. Those are the areas nurses will see it the most. As for ER, the reasons should be obvious, but many people do not know that when women become pregnant that this is a time that the physical violence actually begins and/or escalates, endangering mother and baby.

Screening for DV must be done carefully and thoroughly thru a series of questions. If a nurse or dr. just blurts out "are you a victim of dv", the victim will 99% of the time not disclose, and then the opportunity to help is lost. Questioning must be done empathetically, with eye contact, and the patient must feel safe without judgement. If you ask a victim like we do health history questions, screening WILL NOT WORK.

If a victim's suspected abuser is with her, watch for cues. Does he answer questions for her? Does she look up at him constantly when responding to questions? Does he seems to hover over her or control the situation? Does she appear tense/withdrawn? Is he unusually charming and talkative while she appears timid? Does she keep her arms wrapped around herself in a self protective manner? Does she appear to have pattern bruises (ie from a shoe heal) or bruises in different stages of healing (a new bruise, an old bruise)? Is she evasive?

Never, of course, question a possible victim in front of the possible abuser. You can tell the abuser that because of HIPAA/confidentiality laws that you need to speak to the patient alone and in private. If the abuser begins to act out and becomes agressive or verbally abusive, let him cool off a bit. Let security know, but you don't want him dragging her out of ER/OB, wherever, before she can be treated and receive the help she deserves. And trust me, that will happen. Abuse is about power and control, and if the abuser feels that his power and control is threatened by the healthcare system, he will make sure the victim does not interact with it. One thing you CAN do is to say she is needed for a test in a separate area, take her there (we don't let 2 go in for xrays for instance), and then do the screening. You can be very creative in how you serve this patient.

For some great information, brochures you can order (female bathrooms are great places for this kind of literature), buttons, and information on the way to screen patients CORRECTLY, contact the Family Violence Prevention Fund website (do a search, it's the first thing that comes up). On the right hand side, you will see a "health" tab. Click on it. It's for healthcare providers. Great info can be found there.

If anyone has questions, let me know. I used to professionally train doctors, nurses, etc on DV.

Peace to everyone,

Nadja

[grannynurse FNP student]

Originally Posted by brian

LEOMINSTER-- About 900 nurses and other personnel at HealthAlliance Hospital recently underwent training to detect, prevent and respond to cases of domestic violence among patients.

The training was paid for through an $82,000 grant the hospital received from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care last year.

"It's unheard of throughout the country," Joanne Tulonen, the executive director of Battered Women's Resources Inc., said of the mandatory instruction.
Just a week after training, which consisted of 18 sessions from August to September, staff members already made three referrals to Battered Women's Resources Inc., by calling the organization's hotline.

Full Story: http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/local/ci_3124962

Both New York and Florida require CEUs in domestic violence. While it is certainly not 18 sessions, I question only three referrals is a rather poor one.

Grannynurse

[jnette]

I applaud the efforts made in detecting and preventing this crime....

on ALL fronts.

[fergus51]

When I worked L&D we were required to ask about violence upon admission.