A. Talk
with the person in private
(without the partner).
B. Communicate
Belief, Support & Confidentiality:
- Make
eye contact
- "Our
discussion will remain strictly confidential"
- "You
have a right to be safe and respected."
- "Nobody
deserves to be hit or hurt."
- "The
abuse is not your fault."
- "How
can I help?"
C. Help
Patient Assess Danger:
- Patient's
assessment of safety: "Do you feel safe going home?"
- Indices
of lethality:
- Severity
of injuries; increasing severity; weapons used/available
- Threats
to kill
- Forced or
threatened sexual acts
- Dangerous
life transitions: pregnancy; separation; divorce; leaving home.
- Drug and
alcohol abuse.
- History
of violence or suicide attempts by partner or patient.
- Children's
safety: "Are your children safe?"
[Report suspected child abuse to child protective services.]
D. Plan
for Support & Safety:
- Offer telephone
numbers:
- The local
or regional Woman's Shelter.
- Legal advocacy
- Police
- 911
- Help make
an emergency plan.
- "If
you decided to leave, where could you go?"
- "Can
you keep some clothes, money and important papers in a safe place?"
- "Where
could you go in an emergency? How would you get there?"
- "Many
women call the women's shelter to find out what its like before
deciding to use it."
- "Do
you have relatives or friends you could stay with who would be
supportive?"
E. Offer
Follow Up:
- Schedule
another doctor's appointment.
- Ask the
patient to call you.
F. Document
in the chart:
S:
What the patient said. Use quotation marks to document exact words.
O:
What behavior and injuries you observed. Drawings and photographs
describe location and quality of injuries. Include a ruler in photos
for scale, and victim's face for identity.
A:
Your assessment of potential partner violence.
P:
Describe Safety and Follow up plans.
© B. Ambuel
& L. K. Hamberger, Family Peace Project, Family & Community
Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 210 NW Barstow, #201, Waukesha,
WI, 53188, (414)548-6903. The Family Peace Project provides training
and consultation to professionals, organizations & communities.
Permission granted to copy this protocol for noncommercial use.
Your contribution to the Family Peace Project is tax-deductible.
Updated: 03/20/95 4:17 PM
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