Implementation of Sexual Assault Services in a Clinic Setting.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Healthcare Management
• Victim Services

Background:

• Sexual assault incurs substantial annual costs exceeding $420 million for medical and mental health services in the US.
• An estimated 284,350 adult women experienced sexual assault in 2014, with significant underreporting.
• Lack of accessible sexual assault services in a clinic setting prompted the development of a new program.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish and implement sexual assault services within a clinic setting.
• To offer support, assessment, and forensic examinations for adult female survivors of sexual assault.
• To evaluate the utilization and effectiveness of these newly implemented services.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement approach was employed to guide the implementation and evaluation process.
• Services were initially targeted towards women over 18 years of age.
• Data collection focused on how and when sexual assault victims accessed services.

Main Results:

• The pilot project established a viable option for sexual assault services in a community with prior limited access.
• While patient numbers were initially low, the clinic demonstrated the potential for service provision.
• The study highlighted the need for accessible, clinic-based support for sexual assault survivors.

Conclusions:

• The implementation of clinic-based sexual assault services is a crucial step in supporting survivors.
• Despite initial low patient volume, the service model proves viable and necessary.
• Continued evaluation and adaptation of these services are essential for community health and victim support.