NCJ Number
246928
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 37 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2013 Pages: 511-519
Date Published
August 2013
Length
9 pages
Annotation
To describe the referral patterns and utilization of on-site intimate partner violence IPV services in both inpatient and outpatient settings at a large urban children's hospital.
Abstract
To describe the referral patterns and utilization of on-site intimate partner violence IPV services in both inpatient and outpatient settings at a large urban children's hospital. Retrospective review of case records from IPV victims referred to an on-site IPV counselor between September 2005 and February 2010. Descriptive statistics were used to examine IPV victim demographics, number of referrals per hospital department, referral source type of staff member, time spent by IPV counselor for initial consultation, and services provided to IPV victims. A total of 453 unique referrals were made to the IPV counselor: 81% were identified by universal screening and 19% by risk-based screening. Thirty-six percent of IPV victims were referred from primary care clinics; 26% from inpatient units; 13% from outpatient subspecialty clinics; 12.5% from the emergency department; 5% from the Child Protection Program; and 4% were employee self-referrals. Social workers generated the most referrals 55%, followed by attending physicians 17%, residents 13%, nurses 7%, and other individuals self-referrals 4%. The median initial IPV intervention required 42 minutes. Supportive counseling and safety planning were the services most often utilized by IPV victims. IPV screening can be successfully integrated in both inpatient and outpatient settings by a multidisciplinary group of hospital staff. Most referrals were generated by universal screening outside of the primary care setting. IPV victims generally desired supportive counseling and safety planning over immediate housing relocation. Many IPV screening opportunities were missed by using verbal screening alone.