COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Community Health Center of Branch County announced that it will expand its sexual assault services to include forensic examinations for domestic violence victims seen in the emergency room. The hospital currently employs four forensic nurses and provides a 24/7 on-call patient response to men, women, and children who report sexual violence.
Forensic Nurses will provide comprehensive evaluations and expert injury documentation. This will include thorough physical injury documentation and photographs, along with details of the assault, physical and psychological symptoms. These exams will not only provide expert injury documentation, but can also validate the victim’s experience, and provide a detailed domestic violence history, which could impact legal proceedings.
Information packets will be provided to patients that include safety planning information, community resources, and other important information.
Victim advocates from the Branch County Coalition Against Domestic Violence can be called in to provide support to victims during and after the examination.
This new service will be a great benefit to the victims that they serve.
