Welcome

Welcome to the Washington State Department of Health's web site on the health care provider's role in ending violence against women.

This site offers assistance that can help you support women who are in violent relationships or affected by violence. The goal of this site is to offer a starting point, a gateway to resources, tools and information on how to recognize, talk about and deal with abuse—physical, sexual, psychological and other forms—against female patients and their families.

Just In

• CDC offers Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence Victimization Assessment Instructions for use in Healthcare settings - February 7, 2008

Violence against women is a silent crisis

Every nine seconds a woman is beaten in the United States. It is possible that at least one in every three women you see has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. In Washington State alone, one in six women has been the victim of rape at some point in her lifetime. Victims of abuse reside all around us and they are more than statistics: each is a personal tragedy. Because of the insidious nature of abuse, most victims remain silent, and hence, remain abused and alone. By asking the right questions and getting involved, members of the health care community can bridge this gap of silence. Clear, routine communication can help you detect, treat and stop abuse in your patients and their families.

Your role is critical

As a health care provider, you play a profound role in a patient's overall well-being. This relationship can foster a trust that is invaluable in identifying and extending help to patients who are victims of abuse.

In medical communities, more time is spent on violence-related ailments and diseases than any other single cause. Taking the time now to ask your patient about the presence of violence in her life can later help you give more accurate diagnoses, reduce the expense of unnecessary treatments and allow you both to invest in treating the root problem rather than the symptoms.

Routine screening, support and referrals provided to victims of abuse by their health care providers are critical elements in the prevention and early intervention of violence risks. Asking your patients about potential violence in their lives is a wise use of resources, a necessary form of intervention and the very standard of care. By taking these steps, you can help decrease your patients' risk of additional poor health outcomes. By taking these steps, you will help save lives.

What can be found here

This site provides information related to the following areas:

• Data and statistics relevant to violence against women
• Guidelines for implementing standard protocols and procedures within a health care setting
• Recommendations for establishing a practice environment conducive to addressing violence with patients
• Resources and additional links to information that may be useful for health care providers, including contact information for local sexual assault and domestic violence victim service providers

What can't be found here

This site is not intended to provide medical information or serve as a resource for any other health procedure. While it references and provides contacts for community-based services, this site is not intended to provide direct assistance to victims and survivors of abuse.

Emergency

If you are experiencing abuse in your home, work or community, call the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-562-6025 or click here for a list of local resources.

More Than a Statistic

One in three — the number of women who are raped, assaulted by a partner, or otherwise victims of sexual or domestic violence. This represents a wife, a girlfriend, a mother, a friend. Many survive. Some do not. Help prevent violence against women. You are in the position to help detect, treat and prevent abuse. You can make a difference, one woman at a time.