The Wisconsin
Department of Health Services (DHS) reports that about 1.2 million Wisconsin
adults have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime – that’s about one
out of three adult women and almost one out of every five adult men.
Aspirus Rhinelander
Hospital now offers direct local access to a SANE program in its Emergency
Department (ED).
The experience of
sexual assault is deeply devastating for patients and their loved ones. To help
begin the healing process, the nurses of the Aspirus SANE Program provide
compassionate care and treatment to patients who have been assaulted.
“SANE stands for
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, which is interchangeable with FNE or Forensic
Nurse Examiner,” says Terra Schmoeger, Manager, Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital
Emergency Department. “At Aspirus, we have a team of nurses with specialized
training to perform medical and forensic examination for adolescents and adults
who have been sexually assaulted or strangled.”
What Happens During
the Exam
Aspirus SANE exams
can be done up to 120 hours, or five days, after an assault. When patients
report to an Aspirus ED where services are available, they are brought to a
dedicated safe and private environment where the exam will take place. With
permission, the nurse will ask the patient about the assault, perform a
physical exam, complete an evidence collection kit, offer risk assessment for
pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and coordinate care with a
sexual assault advocate. Patients will be offered and provided a sexual
assault/domestic violence advocate from our Tri County Council, who will
provide resources and service as an advocate for the patient for entirety of
the exam.
“Our exams encompass
trauma-informed care. A patient has been through a traumatic event and
therefore we give them their autonomy back during this exam and allow them the
opportunity to make choices for themselves,” says Lacy Santilli, RN, SANE
Program, Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital. “Some of the choices they can make are
about what services they want us to provide for them and then setting a pace
that they’re comfortable with.”
The Value of Care
Care is important
whether a patient chooses to report the assault to law enforcement or not.
If the patient
wishes to report, the SANE nurse will help. Nurses are mandated to report
sexual assaults of patients under 18 years old. If the patient is over 18 and
unsure if they want to report the assault, the evidence collected during the
exam will go into a kit that will be shipped directly to the Wisconsin State
Crime Lab, where Schmoeger says it will be held for up to ten years for them to
decide if they would like to report or not.
If the patient would
like to track their kit through the chain of custody from law enforcement to
the crime lab, the nurse can provide information.
Aspirus SANE
Programs have expanded across the system, with services currently now available
at seven Aspirus hospitals. If someone has experienced sexual assault, they can
go to one of the locations listed below or to their nearest ED to get set up
with arrangements to travel to the nearest hospital that does perform forensic
exams. Schmoeger adds that if a survivor is seeking care where SANE services
aren’t available, “patients can still get the preventative care they need such
as emergency contraception, as well as protection against STIs and HIV. These
are available at any ED.”
Support for
survivors of sexual assault is available. To contact Aspirus SANE in your area,
call:
- Aspirus
Ironwood Hospital: 906-932-2525
- Aspirus
Medford Hospital: 715-748-8100
- Aspirus
Rhinelander Hospital: 715-361-2000
- Aspirus
Riverview Hospital: 715-423-6060
- Aspirus
Stevens Point Hospital: 715-346-5000
- Aspirus
Wausau Hospital: 715-847-2121
- Howard
Young Medical Center: 715-356-8000
To speak with
someone anonymously, the following 24/7 free confidential hotlines are
available:
- Tri
County Council advocacy: 1-800-236-1222
- RAINN:
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
- Women’s
Community Sexual Assault Victim Services: 715-842-7323 or 1-888-665-1234
“We are proud to add
this important program in Rhinelander which excels in providing highly
specialized clinical care in concert with the compassion needed under difficult
circumstances,” said Teri Theiler, Aspirus North WI Division President.