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Domestic Violence: What Health Care Professionals Can Do
By: Jerry Regier, Secretary of the Department of Children and Families
Domestic Violence is a health care problem of epidemic proportion in Florida and throughout the country. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the number of reported domestic violence cases in 2001 alone exceeded 124,000. The US Department of Justice estimates there are 960,000 incidents of domestic violence each year in America. On October 9, 2002, as part of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and in recognition of Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day, Governor Jeb Bush unveiled a new domestic violence awareness health care program, "Volunteer for Ending Abuse, Improving Lives."
The health effects of domestic violence are staggering. Half of all female victims of domestic violence report an injury of some type, and about 20 percent seek health care assistance. In addition to immediate trauma and injuries caused by abuse, domestic violence contributes to a number of chronic health problems. But too often the reason for these health care problems goes undetected.
Research has shown that the majority (approximately 75%) of domestic violence victims suffer head and neck injuries including lacerations, bruising, bite marks and fractures (de Fonseca MA, Feigal RJ, ten Bensel RW, 1992.) Health care professionals routinely assess a patient's neck and head; consequently, physicians have a perfect opportunity to recognize that a woman is being abused and to intervene.
The "Volunteer for Ending Abuse, Saving Lives" program works to support and educate health care professionals about domestic violence screening. Please review the screening guidelines following for the most up to date screening advice.
The "Volunteer for Ending Abuse, Improving Lives" program is an initiative of the Governor's Violence Free Florida! domestic violence awareness campaign. The program encourages health care providers to volunteer their services to the certified domestic violence centers in their communities, while screening patients in their own practices for domestic violence. As the coordinating agency for Violence Free Florida!, the Department of Children & Families has sent 30,000 dentists and physicians in Florida brochures soliciting their participation in this initiative.
"If only one physician and dentist donated time at each domestic violence center, this initiative could help treat thousands of individuals affected by domestic violence, " Tiffany Carr, Executive Director of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence said.
Health care professionals who know how to detect abuse and provide support and referrals are uniquely situated to help domestic violence victims in Florida. We are asking FMA members to support the Governor's program by volunteering at your local center and screening your patients for domestic violence.
FMA members have a long history of volunteering their services to the communities in which they live. The "Volunteer for Ending Abuse, Improving Lives" initiative is another opportunity for health care professionals to continue this tradition of service by providing care specifically to victims of domestic violence.
"Unfortunately many domestic violence victims face incredible economic hardships and are without the insurance or resources necessary to receive quality health care services," Governor Bush said. "Thanks to this new program and with the support of doctors and dentists from around the state volunteering their time and services, health care providers will play a significant role in helping domestic violence victims live healthier and safer lives."
For more information about the program call the Department of Children & Families' Domestic Violence Office at (850) 921-2168. For further information on this study, search for "domestic violence" on the University of California at San Francisco news website at http://www.ucsf.edu/daybreak/. If you are interested in obtaining more detailed information about domestic violence screening and free screening materials, as well as about the National Health Care Standards Campaign, to which Florida is a partner, contact the Family Violence Prevention Fund (415) 252-8900 or go to http://www.endabuse.org/hcadvd.