ABSTRACT

Over 50 percent of women and nearly 33 percent of men have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during their lifetime (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, n.d.). Sexual assault is a prevalent healthcare issue that can lead to acute and chronic health problems including traumatic injuries, sexually transmitted infections, and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress. Many survivors of sexual violence will seek medica attention after an assault t their local hospital or health clinic. Therefore, the healthcare response for survivors of sexual violence must be coordinated and trauma informed. Yet, healthcare providers may feel uncertain about existing mandatory reporting laws, local and organizations policies in caring for survivors of sexual violence, and resources available within their community. Additionally, many healthcare providers may be unaware of the availability of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE)/Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNE) who are available to respond and provide care and evidence collection for this population of patients. It is important for hospitals and healthcare systems to establish protocols and guidelines in caring for these patients and to consider both trauma informed care and preservation of potential evidence. This poster will provide an overview of trauma informed care and caring for survivors of sexual violence, Arizona state-specific laws and guidelines regarding sexual violence, sexual violence resources within Arizona, and will present an example of a trauma informed decision tree for healthcare providers in caring for survivors of sexual violence. References: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. (n.d.). Fast