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Emergency Room Staff, First Responders Complete Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Training

Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Trainin — Top: JFL SAFE Certificate Program Participants, Dr. Ledray, SAFE Clinical Model, DVSAC Executive Director (St. Croix); Bottom: RLS SAFE Certificate Program Participants, Dr. Ledray SAFE Clinical Model, VIPD Victim Advocate, DVSAC Staff (St. Thomas/St. John)

The V.I. Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Council (DVSAC), the Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center (JFL) and Roy Lester Schneider Regional Medical Center (RLS) kicked off 2020 with a full week of sexual assault forensic examiner training sessions for emergency room staff and first responders from Jan. 13-17 in both St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John Districts.

The training agenda, which was organized as a result of the V.I. Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) — an initiative of DVSAC — was provided by Dr. Linda Ledray of the Sexual Assault Resource Service and coordinated by Stephanie Oriol, member of DVSAC’s Sexual Assault Response team.

According to DVSAC’s Executive Director Khnuma Simmonds, “Our SART has been working diligently over the last four years to improve the process for victims who elect to complete the forensic exam (also referred to as ‘rape kit’). The process improvement is driven by policies that will minimize victimization, effectively distribute and maximize on available resources and increase accessibility for victims while also establishing clear roles and promoting effective communication amongst stakeholders. Our aim is to ease the burden of recovering from this heinous crime by responding with sensitivity, competence and urgency – the SAFE training is just one avenue through which this is accomplished.”

Research shows that effective SARTs have resulted in higher reporting rates, higher percentages of prosecutions, better evidence collection, better patient cooperation, improved services for patient/victim, reduced wait times for evidentiary examinations and a better functioning system approach (Sexual Assault Response Team, 2019).

The training, which was also attended by community members such as the V.I. Police Department, V.I. National Guard and V.I. Partners for a Health Community, addressed a myriad of both practical and clinical issues including but not limited to evidence collection, confidentiality and consent, chain of custody, HIV prevention, thorough documentation, crisis intervention, crisis counseling, identification of genital trauma and the impact of evidence on criminal charges — just to name a few.

Challenges such as outdated/backlogged rape kits and antiquated language on interview forms were discussed and submitted for further review and action by the U.S.V.I. SART while emergency room clinicians had an opportunity to practice simulated exams on a human model. Simulated scenarios offered variety and ranged in complexity from examining intoxicated or incapacitated victims to cases where parental consent is required.

Despite ongoing challenges that must be addressed promptly, Dr. Ledray, who has worked with the U.S.V.I. SART since its revival in 2016 and also conducted training in 2018, said, “I was so pleased and excited to see how far your program has come in the two years since I was last in St Croix. Everyone has clearly been working hard to improve services to survivors and it shows.  What a fabulous group of nurses in this class.  Knowledgeable and enthusiastic about working to make things better one person at a time.  It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to be a part of your process.”

This year, JFL and RLS co-sponsored this 40-hour certification training for their staff, including nurses who are now able to perform forensic exams, serve as expert witnesses and qualify to take the exam for the International Association of Forensic Nurses (pending completion of additional fieldwork).

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