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| ASPIRUS WOMEN’S GOLF CLASSIC —
2017
ProvidingCareandSupport
When It’sNeededMost
Specializedprogramhelping
victimsof sexualassault
Victimsofdomesticabuseor sexual assaultnot
onlyexperiencephysical harm,butalsoagreat
deal of emotional trauma.
Unfortunately,domesticabuseandsexual assault
are far toocommon in thiscountryand locally.
According to information fromTheWomen’s
Community, support serviceswereprovided to
505victimsof sexual assault in2016.
MeetingtheCommunity’sNeeds
With thehelpofourcommunity through lastyear’s
GolfClassic, aSexual AssaultNurseExaminer
(SANE)programwasadvanced toservevictims
inourcommunity. SANEprogramcoordinator
LynnSenfelds,RN, says theyexpected tocare for
aboutnineadultvictims ina12-month timeframe
thatbegan inOctober2016,butasof theendof
April, therehadalreadybeen15peoplewhohave
receivedSANEservicesandsupport.
Tocontinueproviding thebestpossiblecareand
support forvictims, thisyear’sAspirusWomen’s
GolfClassicwill support furtheradvancementof
theSANEprogramatAspirusWausauHospital.
“We’reproud tobeable toprovide thisvaluable
service topeopleduringaverydifficult time in
their lives,”Senfeldssaid. “Our role is tocare for
thevictimsandmakesure theyaresafe,while
doingeverythingwecan tosupport them inany
way theyneed.”
In the last12months,Aspirusadvanced
itsSANEprogramby:
• Trainingsixemergencydepartmentnurses in
SANEthroughtheWisconsinAssociationof
ForensicNursing.
• Purchasingaspecializedexamchair,UV light,
andother forensicequipmentandsupplies.
• Obtainingaspecialized,digital forensic imaging
camera foruseduringexaminations.
• Establishinganew,privateSexualAssault
ForensicExaminer (SAFE)roomtoprovide
victimswithcomfortanddignity.
Evidencecollection
Abigbenefitof theSANEprogramand focalpoint
of the training fornursesdealswith thecollection
of evidence. If avictimwants topursuecharges
against theperson responsible, aconviction is
more likely if there isclearevidence thathasbeen
obtainedcorrectlyand legally. SANEnursesare
trainedonwhat to look forduringanexamination
andonusingspecializedequipment toproperly
collectanddocumentevidence.
“Wecanuse theUV lightand thecamera tobetter
identify injuries,bloodandotherbody fluidson the
victim thatmaynotbeasvisiblewith thenaked
eye,”Senfeldssaid. “Thecamerahasaspecial filter
thatshows theextentof injuriesmuchmoreclearly
whichcan improveprosecution rates.”
