Doctors urged to screen for domestic violence

WARWICK – Aiming to raise doctors’ awareness of domestic violence, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence last week sponsored a symposium to teach health care professionals how to help victims of abuse.
Every day in Rhode Island, according to the coalition, 52 people call a domestic violence hotline, and 44 women and children spend the night in a domestic violence shelter.
“Studies have shown that 70 to 81 percent of survivors of abuse wanted their health care provider to privately ask them about domestic abuse during their appointments,” said Deborah DeBare, executive director of the coalition, in a news release. “This clearly illustrates the importance of bringing this sort of information to the health care community.”
The keynote speaker was Dr. Elaine J. Alpert, who has worked across the country to educate health professionals about family violence and sexual assault. She explained some of the barriers that victims of abuse face and emphasized the critical role that health providers can play in breaking the cycle of violence by detecting the problem and offering help.
“Domestic violence is a serious health care issue,” said Linda H. Newton, vice president for community relations and diversity at Blue Cross. “It is vital that the medical field continue to help detect abuse and provide referrals and support to their patients.”
The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence brings together six agencies statewide that offer shelter, crisis hot lines, support group, children’s programs, court advocacy, counseling and education to fight domestic abuse. For more information, visit www.ricadv.org.