NP
Coalition partnership with Emergency Medical Services for Domestic Violence Awareness
Abstract: The point of entry into the medical system for many patients is the transport emergency medical services transport to the hospital. EMS providers have traditionally not received training with regards to domestic violence awareness. The Community Coalition on Family Violence in Knox County, Tennessee, has entered into a public/private collaborative effort with the local ambulance service, Rural-Metro Corporation, to place informational placards with the local domestic violence Helpline number on the sides of all ambulances in Knox County. The placement of these placards are the first of their kind in the Tennessee, subsequently, they required state regulatory policy change to allow their placement. Additionally, Rural-Metro has provided time during inservices for training on the identification of domestic violence victims. This training has proven to be valuable in counting of domestic violence victims reducing missed opportunities for prevention due to nonspecific complaints. A result of these trainings has been the implementation of screenings for victims of domestic violence. These brief screenings have provided patients with another avenue to be provided with information regarding local resources for victims of domestic violence. A by-product of this venture has been the establishment of a local database with the results of the domestic violence screenings and contribution of local data to the State of Tennessee database. Knox County, TN, serves as a pattern for other communities to follow with regards to partnerships and policy change to promote a healthier community.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe innovative community partnerships between local coalition and pre-hospital community. 2. Describe domestic violence training specific to pre-hospital care providers.
Keywords: EMS/Trauma, Domestic Violence
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Community Coalition on Family Violence, Knoxville,TN
Rural-Metro Ambulance Service, Knoxville, TN
Knox County Health Department, Knoxville, TN
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.