Winnemucca Domestic Violence Services and the Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence are promoting domestic violence screenings and are encouraging local doctors to implement them.
Under the Affordable Care Act, many insurance providers now cover these screenings, according to Susan Meushke with NNADV.
NNADV offers training for doctors to become proficient in domestic violence screenings and offers online resources as well. WDVS Director Tiffany Stickney said she tried to facilitate a training session with Humboldt General Hospital last year, however, due to the emergency swine flu vaccinations, scheduling fell through.
Other training is available is for WDVS employees - they can be trained to instruct doctors on the screening process locally. Stickney said she is definitely interested in completing that training, because she thinks it's important for doctors to conduct the screenings.
"I do feel it's important and I'm glad to see a lot of doctors implementing those questions on their intakes," Stickney said.
Stickney said just in the last 10 years she has noticed that a lot more doctors are taking the time to ask questions pertaining to domestic violence. Meushke said it's up to individual doctors to decide whether to perform the screening, but it's important to raise awareness about the screenings in the hope more doctors will do so.
"The reason we wanted to bring this up is to encourage doctors to get educated about screenings," she said.
The screening is done as part of the annual wellness exam, she said. According to Meushke, research has shown women of child-bearing age are most susceptible to domestic violence and the best practice would be to make sure those patients are screened. If the doctor has suspicions or sees evidence of domestic violence, those patients should "absolutely" be screened, she said, but ideally doctors should screen all patients.
The screenings involve a series of questions providers can ask patients to determine if the patient is a victim of domestic violence. The doctor can then refer his or her patient to community resources, like WDVS, for further help. Stickney said the WDVS office provides brochures and materials to local doctor's offices for that purpose.
According to Meushke, the screening process is "not involved." The problem is some doctors may feel it's not their business to interfere and ask those personal questions.
"They may feel uncomfortable asking questions, yet that would be the time to ask," she said. "It's just like we ask, 'do you smoke? Do you drink? Do you use condoms?' It's just a routine question."
Meuschke said another, more subtle way of doing screenings is to leave materials and brochures for domestic violence services in various places throughout the doctor's office. Those who need the help will hopefully utilize those resources.
Stickney said those resources are always available - providers just need to reach out and ask.
Contact Jessica Powell at j.powell@winnemuccapublishing.net.[[In-content Ad]]
