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go, such as a family member’s home or shelter, and offering the opportunity to make a private phone call. Kizirian adds, “There are domes- tic violence hotlines and resources offered in every community, and a national abuse hotline at 800-799- SAFE (7233). These resources are not only helpful for patients, but also for an ASC that is unsure of how to prop- erly and effectively handle a possible domestic violence situation.” Not all patients will open up about
their experiences. This does not mean an ASC has failed in its responsibility, Wells says. “If you ask the right questions in a supportive manner and provide information, ASCs may be the catalyst for a person experiencing abuse to seek the services they need.” Stair says her ASC keeps domes- tic violence information cards in all of its public restrooms. “These cards
Since domestic violence is often a hidden issue, it is likely that people who are victims are coming into ASCs all the time and we do not realize it.”
—Bruce Ettinger, MD
have agency names, phone numbers, resources and steps to take if you are a victim. If patients are not looking for assistance while they are in our facil- ity, hopefully they will at least take a card and use it later.”
Expand Your Knowledge While ASCs already play a pivotal role in domestic violence identification and prevention, there is still much work to be done, Ettinger says. “We are just scratching the surface. There is so
much information about this, and ASC staff—like all health care providers— should educate themselves on domestic violence as much as possible.” He suggests
ASCs look into
resources and training materials pro- vided by federal and state agencies, as well as organizations such as Futures Without Violence, Academy on Vio- lence and Abuse, professional soci- eties (e.g., the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), cosmetic and reconstructive surgery societies, and domestic violence advocacy centers and agencies. “Domestic abuse develops into life-threatening situations,” Kizirian says. “The more ASCs know about domestic violence, understand how to identify signs and symptoms of it and learn how to effectively and appropriately help victims, the better they will serve their patients.”
22 ASC FOCUS OCTOBER 2015
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