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2008-12-04  FORSYTH HERALD | Northside-Forsyth gets tough on sexual assault
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| | by Christine Foster | | |
December 02, 2008
FORSYTH COUNTY - Sexual assault is at the top of every woman's worst fear list.
Follow up care can often make a difference in the physical and emotional state of victims for years to come, which is why special attention should be afforded to every person who walks through the emergency room doors claiming sexual assault.
Or at least that's the view of Northside-Forsyth Hospital.
A hospital emergency room can be chaotic and intimidating on any given day. So, imagine what it must feel like to someone in need of medical care and more than just a little discretion. That dilemma is specifically the reason Northside-Forsyth began its Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program.
"We realized that when a sexual assault patient came into the emergency department to be seen, she may experience a long wait time, due to 'emergency' patients taking precedent," said Susan Sweeney, the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) coordinator for Northside-Forsyth.
The problem isn't doctor qualifications as much as it is the sensitive handling of such cases.
While emergency room physicians are more than capable of assisting sexual assault patients, they often lack the experience needed in forensic examinations or the time it takes to follow through with someone who has experienced a psychologically traumatic event. Not to mention the amount of aftercare service that is usually required by such patients.
"These patients typically want privacy and a busy emergency department is not conducive to that type of environment," said Sweeney. "We knew we could provide better care for these patients."
The program is unique since many hospitals do not utilize the SANE level of care, which takes a year to complete. Northside-Forsyth employs three SANE providers (two being certified in both pediatric and adult care). The team specializes in medical and forensic examination, injury recognition and documentation, photographic documentation, evidence collection, referral services and expert witness testimony.
"We use a lot of hands on techniques to provide an extensive head-to-toe exam as well as the use of specialized equipment," said Sweeney.
For instance, toulidine dye helps enhance the visualization of injury, alternative light sources search for evidence on the skin or clothing and the Secure Digital Forensic Imaging system is a camera and software combination that takes detailed photos. The camera utilizes filters to enhance injury identification and files photos as evidence.
"I think that the biggest benefit [of the program] is being able to provide compassionate care to someone who has been through a horrendous event. These patients often feel that the assault was somehow their fault or are embarrassed or even angry," Sweeney said.
She also touts the community benefit from the program because of its ability to assist in improved evidence collection, investigation and prosecution of offenders. So far the Northside-Forsyth SANE program has assisted 68 sexual assault patients. Sadly, one-third of those patients have been under the age of 18.
"It is an epidemic in our society," said Sweeney.
The SANE program may not cure the epidemic, but in some small way it is able to help stem the fallout in victims lives by treating them and arming them with the evidence they need to stop offenders in their tracks.
**Though it is more common, sexual assault is not limited just to women. Many male victims never seek treatment because of the stigma attached.
According to statistics, one in three girls and one in six boys will be the victim of sexual assault at some point in their lifetime, said Sweeney.
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