Exemplary Professional Practice Partnership with Crisis Services Supports Sexual Abuse Victims In April of 2014, Kenmore Mercy Hospital hosted a press conference to officially announce an important partnership between Catholic Health and Crisis Services.
Through this partnership, Crisis Services now provides all Catholic Health hospitals with 24/7 availability of specially trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE). This service is available at Kenmore Mercy Hospital, Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, the Mercy Ambulatory Care Center, and Sisters of Charity Hospital and its St. Joseph Campus.
“Emergency Department staff is prepared to handle every emergency that walks through our doors, from a stroke to a splinter. We are trained in how to mend the human body. But when that body is also a crime scene, as it is with a sexual assault victim, we recognize the need for specialized care that can be best delivered by Members of Crisis Services – Holly Franz and Robyn Wiktorski-Reynolds – joined a SANE nurse,” said Amanda Kramer, RN, BSN, nurse Kenmore Mercy’s James M. Millard, Dr. Mark Weissman, and Amanda Kramer in manager of the Emergency Department and a trained making this special announcement. SANE. According to the 2012 data from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, there were 211 forcible rapes reported to the police in Erie County. Fewer than 10% of victims report their assault. Catholic Health is hoping to make an impact on these statistics through its Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program.
“Having these nurses available around the clock, is a valuable asset for victims of sexual assault who seek care in our Emergency Departments, as well as the ER staff who care for them,” added Amanda. “With the support of Crisis Services, we can ensure these patients receive the attention they deserve to care for their physical and emotional needs, as well as manage the collection of forensic evidence and police reporting.” SANE programs improve patient care and increase reporting and conviction rates for sexual abuse crimes. Sexual assault nurse examiners are specially trained to provide comprehensive care to sexual assault survivors. They are trained to obtain a medical and forensic history; perform a physical assessment; identify, collect, preserve and document forensic evidence; provide information for referrals; and provide fact and expert witness testimony. Four of Kenmore Mercy Hospital’s Emergency Department registered nurses – Loretta Crane, Ann Marie Hawn, Laura Carpenter, and Amanda Kramer – are trained as sexual assault nurse examiners. T-shirts made by victims of sexual abuse as part of Crisis Services’ Clothesline Project were displayed at the press conference.
Kenmore Mercy Hospital, 2014 Nursing Annual Report
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