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Meeting Complex Needs of Sexually Assaulted Incarcerated Individuals: Impact of Expert Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Care via Telehealth

NCJ Number
309218
Journal
Journal of Correctional Health Care Volume: 30 Issue: 1 Dated: Feb 2024 Pages: 49-55
Author(s)
Sheridan Miyamoto, Stacey Shipe, Jennifer Delwiche, Cameron Richardson, Katherine Veerhusen, and Cynthia Bittner
Date Published
February 2024
Length
7 pages
Annotation

In this report, the authors discuss how Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) provide care to individuals who experience sexual assault while incarcerated.

Abstract

This report provides preliminary insight into how telehealth can be implemented to provide care to an understudied population with unique health care needs. Sexual violence within prisons is a complex issue. The Prison Rape Elimination Act identifies standards to guide the provision of care to meet the medical and forensic needs of individuals who experience sexual assault (SA) while incarcerated. The standards include access to care by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) whenever possible. Telehealth is one solution to ensure expert SANE access. This brief report addresses the pre-examination concerns/worries and immediate post-examination perceptions and experiences of six individuals who experienced SA while incarcerated. Findings show resolution of pre-examination worries, high satisfaction with care, high telehealth acceptability rates, and universal endorsement that examinations should occur outside of correctional facilities. (Published Abstract Provided)