The Forensic Nurse Examiner Program conducts medical forensic examinations for patients age 13 and older who have been sexually assaulted for medical forensic examination within 15 days of the assault. Answer a few questions below to determine how to refer your patient for services. If you have been assaulted and you do not wish to speak to the police for whatever reason you may have a confidential exam done. If you have this exam at Mercy Medical Center Forensic Nurse Examiner Program we are able to store any evidence collected for up to 16 months. At any point during that time you may decide to report your assault to the police. The evidence we collect now can be used to support your case in the future. The Forensic Nurse Examiner Program also conducts medical forensic examinations (including photographic documentation) for patients age 13 and older who have experienced a physical assault (intimate partner violence, elder abuse, etc). Answer a few questions below to determine how to refer your patient for services. Mercy Medical Center offers a variety of trainings for continuing education in forensic nursing. Please see our schedule of trainings here.Refer a Patient
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1
Is the patient 13 or older?
2
Does the patient want police involvement?
Patients age 12 or younger are seen for acute exams (<72hrs) at University of Maryland Emergency Department (410-328-6335). For non-acute exams (occuring more than 72hrs ago) patient are seen at the Baltimore Child Abuse Center (410-396-6147, www.bcaci.org
Call 311 and tell the dispatcher that you have a patient who wishes to report a sexual assault. A patrol officer will be dispatched to your location to take the report. The police will determine if a forensic exam is indicated and arrange for a Forensic Exam is indicated. If the patient is stable for discharge police can transport the patient to Mercy for an exam. If the patient is NOT stable for discharge the detective can call 410-332-9477 to have the FNE on call paged to perform an exam at the patient's location.
3
Did the assault take place within the past 15 days?
4
Is the patient stable and medically appropriate for discharge?
Forensic evidence collection (a "rape kit") is not generally completed after 120hrs from the time of the event. Patients can be still be seen by an Emeregecy Department providers at Mercy Medical Center for STI treatment. Patients can also still report to the police at any time. In certain circumstances (abduction, human traffiking) evidentiary forensic exams can be performed outside of this window. If there is a questsion about the timing of an assault please call 410-332-9477 and ask the Emergency Department Charge Nurse to have the Forensic Nurse paged.. The patient can still request police involvemet outside of the 120hr window, so this should be offered if the patient wishes to make a police report. We also recommend you share appropriate community resources with the patient.
Discharge the patient to Mercy Medical Center. Patient may be transported via taxi, personal vehicle, etc. Instruct the patient to register int he Mercy Medical Center Emergency Department for a "Jane Doe SAFE Exam".
Mercy Medical Center's Forensic Nurses will respond to all hospitals in Baltimore City for anonymous report ("Jane Doe") exams. Call 410-332-9477 and ask the charge nurse ot page the FNE on call.
1
Is the patient 13 or older?
2
Does the patient want police involvement?
Mercy Medical Center currently sees patient's age 13 and older. For patients age 12 or younger in which abuse is suspected, please follow your facility policy for informing police / child protective services. [DO WE WANT TO LIST TRANFER LOCATIONS ? CONTACT INFO HERE?]
Call 311 and tell the dispatcher that you have a patient who wishes to report a sexual assault. A patrol officer will be dispatched to your location to take the report. The police will determine if a forensic exam is indicated and arrange for a Forensic Exam is indicated. If the patient is stable for discharge police can transport the patient to Mercy for an exam. If the patient is NOT stable for discharge the detective can call 410-332-9477 to have the FNE on call paged to perform an exam at the patient's location.
3
Is the patient stable and medically appropriate for discharge?
Discharge the patient to Mercy Medical Center. Patient may be transported via taxi, personal vehicle, etc. Instruct the patient to register in the Mercy Medical Center Emergency Department for a "forensic /SAFE exam."
In some cases, Mercy Medical Center's forensic nurses are able to provide off site services for patients who are admitted to another hospital and are deferring police involvement. Please contact the Emergency Department Charge Nurse (410-332-9477) to have the on call forensic nurse paged to discuss the specific needs of your patient.
1
How old is the patient?
2
Does the patient want police involvement?
2
Do you suspect abuse/negelct by a parent, guardian, or other caregiver?
Mercy Medical Center currently sees patient's age 13 and older. For patients age 12 or younger in which abuse is suspected, please follow your facility policy for informing police / child protective services.
Call 311 and tell the dispatcher that you have a patient who wishes to report an assault. A patrol officer will be dispatched to your location to take the report. The police will arrange for a forensic exam if indicated. If the patient is stable for discharge police can transport the patient to Mercy for an exam. If the patient is NOT stable for discharge they can call 410-332-9477 to have the FNE on call paged to perform an exam at the patient's location.
3
Is the patient stable and medically appropriate for discharge?
Follow your facility's prtoocol for notifying police/child protective services. If the police would like a forensic examination. Police can transport stable/discharged patients to Mercy Medical Center for an exam if indicated or they can call 410-332-9477 and ask the charge nurse to page the on call FNE to respond.
Discharge the patient to Mercy Medical Center. Patient may be transported via taxi, personal vehicle, etc. Instruct the patient to register in the Mercy Medical Center Emergency Department for a "SAFE exam."
In some cases, Mercy Medical Center's forensic nurses are able to provide off site services for patients who are admitted to another hospital and are deferring police involvement. Please contact the Emergency Department Charge Nurse (410-332-9477) to have the on call forensic nurse paged to discuss the specific needs of your patient.