Partner violence: a systematic approach to identification and intervention in outpatient health care

Although partner violence is a common source of injury for women, physicians and female patients rarely discuss this problem. We outline a systematic approach to clinical practice that includes screening, case finding, intervention, and changes in the office environment. The clinician can begin to address partner violence by artfully applying these techniques. Future health outcomes research will provide additional guidance to clinical practice. We conclude with a quote from a third year medical student at the Medical College of Wisconsin who has a clear and challenging vision of the future: "I look forward to helping victims of domestic violence and eradicating domestic violence from the face of the earth just as smallpox has been eliminated."