Grant from Adams County, Colorado gives Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital ability to provide expanded care for victims of Sexual Assault or Domestic Violence
(PRUnderground) May 30th, 2024
April Vialpando, RN, believes victims of sexual assault or domestic violence, should be able to access care from a forensic nurse as soon as is possible. It should not take days, extensive travel, or a grueling wait for the victim.
Better access is now possible at Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital in Brighton, Colorado thanks to a $438,000 grant from Adams County.
Platte Valley will use the funds to expand the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program. The program provides critical, compassionate service for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
“By expanding the SANE program, we are ensuring that victims of these horrific crimes receive the care and support they need without unnecessary delays or obstacles,” said Adams County Commissioner and Chair Emma Pinter. “This grant is a significant step in our commitment to improving public health and safety in our community.”
Vialpando, the program’s coordinator, explained that victims get emergency medical treatment for physical injuries, but a forensic exam must be performed by a certified caregiver. Not all hospitals offer that, and some might not have a trained clinician available.
“If you have to wait multiple nights in a row for hours (to see a forensic nurse), you probably give up or you don’t want to pursue getting any kind of help,” she said.
Platte Valley introduced its SANE program in January. Six specially trained nurses, dedicated equipment, and rooms designed for the care of sexual assault victims make up the program. It was created to treat patients and collect forensic evidence from victims who have experienced sexual violence and domestic abuse.
Since the program began, Vialpando said she has been surprised by the amount of violence against women. They have treated about 45 patients, which also includes a few men, since the program began. Only a quarter stem from sexual assault with the rest being victims of domestic violence. Both acts are “much more prevalent than anyone wants to think about,” Vialpando said.
While she sees so much violence, there are rewards as well.
“The most rewarding…is taking care of victims who think no one will believe them, and I care for them. I believe them and I reassure them,” she said.
Law enforcement officers appreciate taking victims to the local hospital rather than driving farther away from their service area.
In addition to doing the forensic exam, the nurses work closely with Adams County and the 17th Judicial District to act as expert witnesses and testify in court.
Vialpando has worked as a nurse for 20 years and said she has known from the start she wanted to care for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
“When the opportunity arose, I took full advantage and did the training so I could meet one of my own personal goals,” she said.
The Platte Valley team will evaluate patients 18 years and older affected by violence, including sexual assault, domestic violence, and strangulation.
If a patient chooses to report a crime, forensic evidence collected by the Platte Valley SANE program team will provide a valuable resource for police investigation and prosecution.
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in seven states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 3,900 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.
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Original Press Release.
