Do EDs Provide Appropriate Care for Victims of Sexual Assault?

Emergency departments fall short of providing comprehensive care.

The emergency department (ED) is the primary point of care for victims of sexual assault. To assess whether EDs provide appropriate care, investigators administered a 14-item telephone survey to the “nurse in charge” at 187 hospitals in Illinois that provide ED care for victims; 156 hospitals (83%) responded.

All EDs provided sexual assault patients with treatment for acute physical trauma. Only 87% had written protocols for treating these patients. Same-day rape counseling was provided by 88% of EDs, even if no counselor was on site. Overall, 90% of respondents said that victims were always tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and 72% said they always tested for HIV infection. Eighty-one percent of EDs always provided prophyla…

Reviewing Author

Robert W. Rebar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMyovant Sciences, Inc.

Editorial BoardsEndoText; Clinical OB/GYN Alert

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicine (Member, Ethics Committee)

Robert W. Rebar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMyovant Sciences, Inc.

Editorial BoardsEndoText; Clinical OB/GYN Alert

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicine (Member, Ethics Committee)

Do EDs Provide Appropriate Care for Victims of Sexual Assault?

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Reviewing Author