Transcript Coalition Partnership with Emergency Medical Services for

Coalition Partnership with
Emergency Medical Services for
Domestic Violence Awareness
Charity Smith, MPH, CHES,
EMT-IV
&
Micky Roberts, MDiv, CHES
Knoxville, TN
• Population: 400,000-450,000 in Knox
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County
5 hospitals in area
University of Tennessee
Located in valley next to Smoky Mountains
15,000 reported domestic calls annually
2,500 Orders of Protection annually
EMS Services in Knoxville
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82,000 calls for service annually
Quarterly education days for employees
Rural-Metro Corporation
Knoxville Fire Department
Why consider EMS?
• Respond to location
• See patient’s
environment
• Time alone with
patient
• Multiple calls to
residence
Coalition Initiatives
• Family Violence
• Encourage routine
Helpline
• Coalition Co-Chair
Ride alongs
screening
• Safety Cards on all
ambulances
Placards
• State EMS Board approval required
• An collaborative effort of coalition and
Rural/Metro Corporation
• On all Rural-Metro ambulance and fire
apparatus in county
• Only ambulance service in Tennessee with
DV information on trucks
• Media Campaign with release of placards
Patient Screening
• Routine patient screening is encouraged
unless patient meets one of these criteria:
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Intoxicated or drug use
Oxygen dependent
Decreased level of consciousness
Decreased mental status
Screening Questions
• Within the past year, have you been hit, kicked,
punched, or otherwise hurt by someone you
know?
• Do you feel safe in your current relationship?
• Is there anyone from a prior relationship who is
making you feel unsafe now?
Adapted with permission from Keith Bradley, MD
American College of Emergency Physicians
Response to initiative
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Law effective 7/2001 for mandatory DV training
Increased calls to Helpline
Employees in abusive relationships seek help
Increased understanding about dynamics of DV
Increased community awareness about resources
Better continuity of care in the ED – know true
etiology of symptoms
• Training hospital employees about DV
Family Violence Helpline
Call:
(865)521-6336