S.P.A.N. Safety Patient Advocay Network
Services
FOR VICTIMS
OF:
Domestic
Violence
and
Intimate
Partner
Violence:
Confidential
on-site
services
Education
and support
Assistance
in seeking
shelter
Referrals to
community
resources
Assistance
with
obtaining
PFAs
(Protection
from Abuse
Orders)
Legal
Assistance
Safety
Planning
Follow-up
referral
support
For
Healthcare
Providers
and the
Community:
Training and
education
about
domestic
violence and
intimate
partner
violence.
Assistance
in
developing
hospital
wide
protocols
and
procedures
in meeting
national
accreditation
standards.
Education on
addressing
domestic
violence
with
patients
Screening
R =
Routinely
screen
female
patientA =
Ask direct
questionsD =
Document
your
findingsA =
Assess
patient
safetyR =
Review
options and
referrals
Routine
screening
should be
conducted
for all
female
patients
over the age
of fourteen
or for
anyone where
abuse is
suspected.
Screening
should be
carried out
in a safe
private
setting
using
straight
forward
non-judgmental
questions.
Examples of
direct
questions:“Because
violence is
so common in
manywomen’s
lives, I’ve
begun to ask
about
itroutinely.”
“Have you
ever been
hit, kicked,
or punched
by your
partner?
“Do you feel
safe at
home?
If the
patient
answers yes
to any of
the above
questions,
be
supportive,
listen
non-judgmentally,
validate the
experience,
and offer
resources.
Contact the
Healthcare
Advocate
Cycle of Violence
Tension
Building
Phase During
this time,
you feel
like you are
walking on
eggshells to
keep the
peace. But
no matter
what you do
the abuser
will still
explode and
the anger
will
overflow.
• Acute Or
Abusive
Phase This
is the time
the abuser
will become
violent. The
violence may
be in the
form of
hitting,
slapping,
strangulation,
pushing,
kicking,
stabbing,
even
shooting.
• Honeymoon
Phase The
abuser may
apologize
and make up
by giving
gifts.
And the
cycle starts
all over
again...
and again…
and again…
and
Contact
Information
To meet with
an advocate,
please
contact the
Della
Gill/Joyce
H. Williams
Center (913)
321-0951
The Advocate
is available
24 hours a
day
Confidential
services are
offered to
hospital/clinic
patients and
employees.
For
additional
information
or screening
call the
Della
Gill/Joyce
H. Williams
Center and
request
The On-Call
Healthcare
Advocate.
