Primary care and victims of domestic violence

Providing quality health care involves integrating routine inquiry about domestic violence into ongoing clinical practice. This means asking all women patients, and others who may be at risk, about abuse in their lives. Whether or not a woman chooses to use services or leave her partner, our intervention is very important. Some women return to violent partners several times before they feel safe enough to leave, feel they can survive on their own, or can accept that the person they love will not change. Make sure that she has follow-up for her medical problems and appropriate referrals for mental health and substance abuse problems when indicated.