Domestic violence: teaming communities with providers for effective intervention

For battered women, it is essential that health care providers begin to address the causes of domestic violence injuries--not just the result. Community involvement is necessary for the interventions to be effective, and the health care system is uniquely positioned to intervene as the universal point of entry for abused women. The article outlines some of the challenges in addressing domestic violence, identifies barriers to addressing the problem, and offers suggestions for overcoming the barriers in the current health care environment.