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EDITORIAL: FORENSIC NURSE SERVICES ARE NOT A LUXURY

 

Roanoke Times

October 31, 2011

Leaders at LewisGale Medical Center in Salem deserve credit for re-evaluating their decision to no longer keep a forensic nurse on duty 24/7.

The nurses are cross-trained to treat the injuries of victims of rape, domestic violence and child abuse while also gathering evidence that can be used in court.

The many law enforcement officials and victims' advocates who contacted hospital officials with their concerns can also take satisfaction that they did their part to preserve this critical service.

But they cannot assume that the issue has been fully resolved and move on to other matters.

Hospitals are under increasing pressure from cost-cutting efforts within both the Medicare and Medicaid programs for senior and indigent patients.

Reimbursements to health care providers have been slashed, and hospitals are constantly forced to justify and re-justify every line item in their budgets.

Adding to the challenge is an aging population and emergency rooms crammed with younger adults who have lost their jobs and health insurance. Indeed, LewisGale's initial decision to scale back forensic nursing availability was the result of a need to increase staffing in the ER, where visits are up 6 percent over last year.

All of that will keep the forensic program under constant scrutiny.

"Once on the chopping block, there's always that danger," said Teresa Berry, executive director of the Roanoke-based sexual response nonprofit SARA Inc.

It's up to everyone in the region to let LewisGale and Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital know that their forensic nurse programs are valued and appreciated.

It costs money to make sure specialized services are available at all hours of the day and night, but victims of sex crimes and domestic violence need not only medical attention but also a fighting chance to make sure their attackers are prosecuted.

"If we can make a difference in the darkest day of their life, we need to do that," said Berry. "Some things you do because it's the right thing to do."