UTC Scholar

From the Ground Up: Developing and Implementing a Domestic Violence Examiner Program

In Tennessee, 40% of women and 32.5% of men experience domestic violence (DV) during their lifetime (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2015). DV is the primary cause of traumatic injury to women with 50% of DV events resulting in injury (Johnston, 2006; Tribal Forensic Healthcare, 2017). In addition to acute injury, victims of DV experience increased chronic health problems (World Health Organization, 2012). After a DV event, 49% of victims desire healthcare assistance to address health concerns; however, only 18% of victims seek medical treatment (Tribal Forensic Healthcare, 2017). Many hospitals screen for DV in order to identify at risk patients; some hospitals provide specially trained forensic nurses to care for victims (International Association of Forensic Nurses [IAFN], 2014). Using a trauma-informed approach, domestic violence examiner (DVE) programs allow forensic nurses to effectively identify and address adverse health implications of DV through a forensic medical exam that includes a health history, physical exam, screening for and treating injuries, photo documentation, and referrals (IAFN, 2014). During 2017, a community-based DVE program was developed and implemented in a mid-sized Southern United States community. The purpose of this poster presentation is to engage participants by 1) exploring how DV impacts the health of victims, 2) describing the development and implementation of a DVE program, and 3) discussing outcomes of a community-based DVE program. As a result, participants will gain an increased understanding of the impact of DV on health and methods of holistically addressing DV.