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Hershey Medical Center’s sexual assault examiners join telehealth program
Ioannis Pashakis//December 12, 2019
Hershey Medical Center’s sexual assault examiners join telehealth program
Ioannis Pashakis//December 12, 2019
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center’s registered nurses trained in sexual assault examination will be offering remote care to patients in rural regions.
The Derry Township-based medical center is partnering with the Penn State College of Nursing to offer its examiners to the college’s Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Telehealth Center. The telehealth center targets Pennsylvania’s rural counties and provides sexual assault victims with experts in sexual assault examination over the internet.
During the telehealth process, a remote sexual assault nurse examiner offers support to the on-site nurse and patient by ensuring best practices and proper evidence collection.
The partnership will give the telehealth center more trained examiners to offer to Pennsylvania hospitals.
The medical center’s examiners are trained in medical, psychological and forensic examination related to sexual assault and are on-call at the medical center’s emergency department 24 hours a day.
“Historically, our nurses have provided specialized, compassionate care to victims of sexual assault. It has always been our priority to provide a safe space for these patients while documenting the effects of their trauma,” said Marie Hankinson, vice president of nursing for emergency services at Hershey Medical Center. “By partnering with the College of Nursing’s unique telehealth program, Penn State Health continues to be a leader in new and innovative treatments that better serve our patients.”
