Fredericksburg, VA, November 19, 2019 - Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) has been awarded a Victims of Crime Act / Victims Services Grant through the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. This two-year grant award provides funding to expand the existing Mary Washington Hospital Forensic Services Department which serves victims in cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse or neglect, and human trafficking.

Mary Washington Hospital is one of only 16 hospitals in Virginia providing forensic nursing services for assault victims; this Victims of Crime Act / Victims Services Grant award expands the clinical team from six to seven forensic nurse examiners plus additional supporting staff and exam equipment.

Forensic nurse examiners are specially trained to care for patients of all ages who have experienced violence, providing compassionate medical assessment and care as needed, including forensic exams of patients. These exceptional nurses, trained in trauma care, provide physical behavior assessment, clinical specimen/evidence collection, and intervention for individuals who have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking, and/or strangulation. In addition to medical evaluation, they are involved with crisis intervention resources, expert testimony regarding assessment, evidence collection/handling, and documentation when required.

“We have seen an increasing number of complex assault cases, and this grant allows us to provide a vital community resource which ensures patients impacted by violence and abuse receive the specialized care they deserve”, said Eileen Dohmann, RN, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Mary Washington Healthcare. “Adding a new forensic nurse examiner, supporting staff, digital equipment and the expansion to 24/7 care for crime victims in the region, eliminates the need for victims to travel 50 or more miles out of the area for these services at such a critical time.”

Through partnerships with local, county and state organizations, victims of violence receive comprehensive information and resources for victim advocacy, counseling, and safety and harm-reduction services. As a result of this grant MWHC will provide survivors of violence in the region between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, VA, with expanded access to timely treatment, compassionate care and supportive healing.

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Mary Washington Healthcare is a fully integrated, regional medical system that provides inpatient and outpatient care through over 50 facilities, including Mary Washington Hospice, and services including Mary Washington Hospital, a 451-bed regional medical center, and Stafford Hospital, a 100-bed community hospital. Mary Washington Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system with a longstanding commitment to provide care regardless of ability to pay. For more information about our services and facilities, visit mwhc.com.