IRMC Partners with SAFE-T System to Provide Support for Victims of Sexual Assault

Indiana Regional Medical Center is partnering with SAFE-T System (Sexual Assault Telehealth System) to enhance sexual assault care in the region. On Tuesday, June 10, IRMC joined the SAFE-T team, Alice Paul House, local law enforcement, the district attorney’s office, and numerous other community partners to raise awareness and offer education about this initiative.

“We are excited to partner with SAFE-System to bring top quality sexual assault care to victims who seek help at our hospital.” Wendy Haislip, Chief Nursing Officer said. “Having expert nurses available 24/7 to support our staff and our patients is invaluable.”

SAFE-T System was launched with support from the Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime as a solution to enhance access to high-quality sexual assault care in underserved communities. When someone presents to IRMC after experiencing sexual violence, they will immediately have access to a board-certified sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE). SANEs have extensive experience in the provision of sexual assault care and thanks to SAFE-T System’s specialized forensic telehealth technology, their expertise can be accessed by our community. Typically, access to SANEs with this level of training and experience is often limited to large, urban sexual assault centers. However, IRMC’s innovative partnership with SAFE-T System makes it possible to have this expertise locally. The SAFE-T System telehealth SANE (teleSANE) can see the live exam in progress, ensuring best practices, proper evidence collection, and a safe and supportive environment for the patient.

“The expert nurse appears on a screen where they can talk to and support both the onsite nurse and the patient,” said Sheridan Miyamoto, Associate Professor of Nursing at Penn State and Director of the SAFE-T Center. “This is a true partnership. Our goal is to make sure the on-site nurse feels supported and confident during the exam and that the patient knows that they are getting the best care possible.”

Sexual assault forensic examination services are available at IRMC Emergency Department 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.