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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Consuelo U. Dungca, EdD, RN, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, 125 Worth St, Suite 427, New York, NY 10013 and Marlene Allison, RN, MPH, Clinical Affairs, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, 125 Worth St, Suite 427, New York, NY 10013, 212 788 3397, Marlene.Allison@nychhc.org.

NYC Health & Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is the largest municipal health care system in the country with 11 hospitals, 4 long term care, 6 diagnostic and treatment centers, a health and home care agency managed care agencies. HHC provides health care services to a largely disadvantaged, multicultural and multiethnic population, and treats a significant number of violence related cases including rape and sexual assault. In October 2000, Governor Pataki signed the Sexual Assault Reform Act (SARA) requiring 24 hours availability of Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFE) at hospitals designated as Centers of Excellence for rape victims. Approximately 23,655 sexual assaults were reported to NY law enforcement agencies in 2000; 3,352 forcible rapes and 20,303 sex offenses. In 1999 HHC provided care to approximately 1000 rape victims and 960 in 2004. HHC's hospitals are designated as SAFE Center of Excellence. This designation requires rape victims seen in Emergency Department be examined by a SAFE within an hour, receive prompt compassionate care, collection of forensic evidence, advocacy and medications. To actualize this requirement, HHC and the Mayor's office of Criminal Justice Center established a model partnership called Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). SART is a unique approach that ensures the 24 hour availability of SAFE so that rape victims receive services within the hour of arrival. Logistics for this model include training, recruitment, credentialing and funding. Since the SART Program in 2004, 90% of rape victims were seen by SAFE within the hour and 85% were examined by certified SAFE.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the requirements of a SAFE Center for Excellence.
• Describe the components of a SART program and its implementation.
• Develop measurements/indicators to monitor effectiveness and opportunities for improvement of the SART.

Keywords: Access and Services, Sexual Assault

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation