title: Use screening tools, partnerships to improve identification, care of victims of IPV.
abstract: While accrediting organizations require hospitals to put protocols in place to deal with intimate partner violence (IPV), research shows that the problem is often left uncovered in women who present for care in busy EDs. One study suggests that as much as 72% of women with a history of IPV are not identified when they visit the ED for medical issues. Experts are hopeful that recent publicity about IPV will heighten awareness and improve screening for the problem. Experts say providers are often reluctant to ask questions about IPV, either because they are unsure of how to respond or they lack ready access to resources for referral. When screening for IPV, it is important to ask behavior-specific questions so that there is no room for misinterpretation. To bolster the emergency response to incidents of IPV, hospitals need to seek out and nurture relationships with community organizations that can serve as referral sources to victims. Experts say providers need to consider the possibility of traumatic brain injury in women who present with head and/or facial injuries.
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014481:United States