NCJ Number
54191
Journal
HOSPITALS Volume: 52 Issue: 22 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1978) Pages: 135-138
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
PROCEDURES USED BY THE STAFF AT DEACONESS HOSPITAL, SPOKANE, WASH., IN DETECTING AND REPORTING CASES OF CHILD ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND SEXUAL ASSAULT ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT STAFF AT DEACONESS DETECTS CHILD ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND MOLESTATION BY NOTING CLUES AND SYMPTOMS IN BOTH THE CHILD AND THE PARENT. WHEN THE STAFF SUSPECTS SOME FORM OF ABUSE, THE CHILD IS GIVEN A THOROUGH EXAMINATION AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE TAKEN TO DOCUMENT ANY INJURIES. THE LOCAL CHILD PROTECTIVE AGENCY (CPA) PROVIDES ROUND-THE-CLOCK EMERGENCY PLACEMENT SERVICE, AND PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED AT THE HOSPITAL FOR REPORTING ALL ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES TO THE CPA AND ALL SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES TO THE POLICE. THE MEDICAL, LEGAL, AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ABUSED CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS ARE HANDLED BY AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM THAT INCLUDES A PHYSICIAN, NURSES, A CASEWORKER FROM THE CPA, AND A HOSPITAL SOCIAL WORKER. ALL CASES OF SUSPECTED ABUSE OR NEGLECT ARE FILED WITH SPOKANE'S CENTRAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT REGISTRY. SYMPTOMS INDICATIVE OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND MOLESTATION ARE NOTED, AS IS THE WASHINGTON LAW PROTECTING THOSE WHO MUST REPORT ABUSE AND NEGLECT FROM CRIMINAL OR CIVIL LIABILITY. APPROACHES TAKEN BY SOCIAL WORKERS AND NURSES IN DEALING WITH ABUSED CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS ARE MENTIONED. AN ACCOMPANYING NOTE OUTLINES THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PHILADELPHIA CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC/CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA CHILD ABUSE PROGRAM. (LKM)