Holistically, healthcare providers must respond to patients' psychosocial and spiritual as well as physical needs. Not addressing abuse is ignoring a significant area of patient need. Patients want providers to ask about domestic violence and to direct them to resources for help. Studies reflect support from survivors for such involvement. Violence is a healthcare epidemic.
Early intervention can prevent future generations from repeating the cycle of violence.
Granted, learning the skills necessary for effective assessment of and intervention in domestic violence and incorporating them into practice is a process that will take time. However, once this is accomplished, application of these skills in the clinical setting does not have to be time-consuming. Yet, potentially, this minimum effort by healthcare providers can have a major impact in reducing violence in our society. Marlene Jezierski, RN, BAN Quality facilitator in violence education Mercy Hospital Coon Rapids, Minnesota Reference 1. Ganley A. Understanding domestic violence.