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The Domestic
Violence Task Force is working to increase awareness of domestic
violence and to promote universal screening and counseling of patients
in health care settings in Bucks County.
Domestic Violence is a public health epidemic
that affects 4 million women in this country. Health care providers
have increasingly recognized that they play a critical role in intervening
to break the cycle of domestic violence.
The BCHIP Domestic Violence Task Force is a partnership
of community agencies and organizations including A Woman's Place,
Bensalem Police Department, Bucks County Government, Bucks County
Health Department, Network of Victim Assistance, Planned Parenthood
of Bucks County, HealthLink, The Free Clinic of Doylestown and the
seven hospitals in Bucks County. The task force works to increase
community awareness of domestic violence and to support the efforts
of the Domestic Violence Medical Advocates in hospitals and other
health care settings.
Domestic Violence Medical Advocates, with offices
in hospitals and clinics, meet with abused women to provide crisis
counseling, safety planning, emergency housing, and referral information.
The Medical Advocates also assist in training health care providers
in hospitals, clinics, and physician offices to identify domestic
violence and make appropriate referrals.
The Domestic Violence Task Force has worked collaboratively
to establish:
- Domestic violence policies in Bucks County's
seven acute care hospitals and the Bucks County Department of
Health
- Training for hospital and health department
staff, physicians and volunteers
- Routine screening of hospital and clinic patients
for domestic violence
- Awareness campaigns within partner institutions
and in the community
For more information about the Domestic Violence
Task Force, contact:
Terri Rivera, Domestic Violence Task Force Chair
St. Mary Medical Center
Langhorne-Newtown Road
Langhorne, PA 19047-1295
Phone: 215-710-6875
Fax: 215-710-2298
Email: trivera@stmaryhealthcare.org
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