HEATHER
COXHEALTH IS THE FIRST HOSPITAL
IN MISSOURI TO OFFER RAPE KITS
-- THROUGH THE USE OF
TELEHEALTH TECHNOLOGY IN **ALL**
OF ITS EMERGENCY ROOMS 24-7.
GOOD EVENING .. I'M HEATHER
LEWIS
DAVID
AND I'M DAVID OLIVER.
ACCORDING TO COXHEALTH... THIS
WOULD RADICALLY INCREASE
ACCESSIBILITY TO SEXUAL
ASSAULT PATIENTS IN RURAL AREAS.
KOLR 10'S MADISON HEVER IS HERE
WITH HOW THEY'RE DOING IT.
MADISON?
MADISON
IF A PATIENT WALKS INTO A
COXHEALTH EMERGENCY ROOM -- EVEN
IN RURAL AREAS -- SEXUAL ASSAULT
NURSE EXAMINERS -- ALSO KNOWN AS
SANE --WILL BE ABLE TO CONNECT
THROUGH TELEHEALTH TO A
PATIENT AND AN ON-SITE NURSE TO
ADMINISTER THE KIT.
(Brooke Batesel/CoxHealth
TeleSANE Coordinator &
Assistant Forensic Program
Coordinator)
"Through the use of Telehealth
technology, we're able to offer
sexual assault forensic exams at
all of our emergency departments
throughout the CoxHealth system
24 hours a
day, 7 days a week."
BROOKE BATESEL IS THE TELESANE
COORDINATOR
AND THE ASSISTANT FORENSIC
PROGRAM COORDINATOR AT
COXHEALTH.
SHE SAYS BEFORE THE TELEHEALTH
TECHONOLGY
FOR FORENSIC EXAMS...PATIENTS
WOULD OFTEN HAVE TO MAKE A
DECISION TO TRAVEL FOR
AN EXAM.
(Brooke Batesel/CoxHealth
TeleSANE Coordinator &
Assistant Forensic Program
Coordinator)
"Prior to this, we had some
rural sites that were able to
provide
forensic exams but not 24/7. So,
in those instances, patients
would have to travel to
Springfield where we have had
24/7 coverage to have those
exams. So that could be up to 90
miles of travel."
BUT THAT WASN'T THE ONLY
BARRIER...
(Brooke Batesel/CoxHealth
TeleSANE Coordinator &
Assistant Forensic Program
Coordinator)
"Gas money, transportation,
childcare. Because of all of
those different barriers, there
were a lot of patients that
didn't travel, didn't come for
the exams for many different
reasons."
IF A PATIENT GOES TO A RURAL
COXHEALTH ER...
(Brooke Batesel/CoxHealth
TeleSANE Coordinator &
Assistant Forensic Program
Coordinator)
"They connect with the Sexual
Assault Nurse Examiner from
Springfield and the sexual
assault nurse examiner leads the
exam with the on-site nurse."
AND EVIDENCE IS COLLECTED IF THE
PATIENT
CONSENTS.
(Brooke Batesel/CoxHealth
TeleSANE Coordinator &
Assistant Forensic Program
Coordinator)
"That could be blood, urine,
hair, fingernail, whatever is
appropriate for that specific
patient. We seal that, release
it to law enforcement if they
have consented to that."
BUT PATIENTS DON'T HAVE TO
RELEASE THEIR KIT TO
POLICE.
(Brooke Batesel/CoxHealth
TeleSANE Coordinator &
Assistant Forensic Program
Coordinator)
"We just like to meet patients
where they're at and support
them in whatever road they
choose."
SHE SAYS OFFERING FORENSIC EXAMS
-- OR
RAPE KITS -- 24/7 IN ALL
COXHEALTH EMERGENCY ROOMS WILL
HELP PATIENTS GET THE CARE
THEY DESERVE.
(Brooke Batesel/CoxHealth
TeleSANE Coordinator &
Assistant Forensic Program
Coordinator)
"We're not really sure what to
expect for each site
specifically
but in Springfield we serve
between 150 and 200 patients
with complaints for sexual
assault each year. It's
important
for us to be able to offer the
highest level of care to each
patient no matter which
CoxHealth facility they present
to. It's also very rewarding to
be able to provide this to
patients."
MADISON
FUNDING FOR THESE EXAMS THROUGH
TELEHEALTH CAME FROM A GRANT
AWARDED BY THE
MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES VIOLENT CRIME ACT.
THE FUNDING ALSO HELPS PROVIDE
COMFORT ITEMS LIKE HYGEINE,
CLOTHING AND SHOES FOR VICTIMS
AT
DISCHARGE.
HEATHER
THANKS MADISON
HEATHER
