November 19, 2019
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.