The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69404

Krista J Kotz, PhD, MPH¹, Krista J Kotz, PhD, MPH¹, and Brigid McCaw, MD, MS, MPH². (1) Family Violence Prevention Program, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, 1950 Franklin St, 18th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612, (925) 253-9285, kjkotz@kotzhealthpolicy.com, (2) Family Violence Prevention Program, Kaiser Permanente Northern California Region, 1950 Franklin St, 18th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612

The healthcare system can play a unique role in domestic violence prevention. Whereas the legal systems interacts with people in crisis situations (and victims often change their minds in the “honeymoon” period of the cycle of domestic violence), the health care system can connect people experiencing domestic violence to resources while they are in the hospital receiving care, and through multiple opportunities in the clinic setting. Kaiser Permanente Northern California has developed a comprehensive program to reduce intimate partner abuse. The key interrelated components include: 1) developing a supportive environment, 2) linking with community agencies, 3) training mental health clinicians to provide assessments and referrals to appropriate resources, and 4) simplifying screening for front-line clinicians. This comprehensive approach was started as a pilot program at Kaiser Permanente Medical Offices, Richmond, California, and is currently being implemented throughout the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Region. Evaluation of the program has been performed using telephone survey data, and through analysis of data from internal data collection systems. Elements of this model of care were found to be associated with increased patient and provider satisfaction. And, perhaps most importantly, quality of care was improved through an increase in referrals to appropriate follow-up care.

Learning Objectives:

• 1) Participants will be able to describe the four key elements of the program.
• 2) Participants will be able to describe why training clinicians to screen for intimate partner abuse should be the last issue addressed when implementing a comprehensive program in the health care setting.
• 3) Participants will be able to describe what the role of the health care organization can be in preventing intimate partner abuse.

Keywords: Domestic Violence, Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Kaiser Permanente Northern California Region
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.