Soroptimists Donate Equipment Used For Sexual Assult Exam to Ukiah Valley Medical Center
UVMC News 8/18/2009
Thanks to the members of Soroptimist International of Ukiah, Ukiah Valley Medical Center (UVMC) Emergency Room installed a new piece of equipment last week. The Soroptimists once again demonstrated their dedication to improving the lives of women and girls; this time, by donating approximately $6,000 to purchase a colposcope. Colposcopes are used during sexual
assault examinations, and can be instrumental in both assessing a patient’s condition and providing details to help apprehend and prosecute those who perpetrate violence against women.
Emergency Department Director Tim Rohan, RN, CCRN, CFRN, CEN said, “I am so grateful to the Soroptimists. The dedication and contributions that they’ve made for the health and welfare of women and young girls in our community is paramount to the health of our community. They are a great group. I love Ukiah, where people take care of each other.”
In addition to enhancing adult exams, the colposcope will be used with UVMC’s telemedicine equipment to provide pediatric sexual assault exams. Local pediatrician Dr. Jeremy Mann and the hospital’s physician partners at UC Davis Medical Center examine children who are victims of sexual abuse. “This is something people don’t want to think about, but we care for abused children in our Emergency Room. The better our equipment, the better we can take care of our pediatric patients—and the more likely we are to help law enforcement and the District Attorneys’ office prosecute these horrific crimes so we can reduce
cases like this,” Rohan said.
Sometimes evidence from the colposcope examination is so convincing, victims do not have to testify in court. The evidence speaks for itself and victims are saved the additional trauma of having to re-live their experience by answering questions
in a court setting.
UVMC does thirty exams per year, eight of them on pediatric patients. Two Emergency Department nurses have special training to work with physicians in Ukiah and with UC Davis Medical Center through Telemedicine. Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) includes nurses from UVMC Lisa Oden, RN, and Kristen Scheck, RN, BSN. Their additional training includes certification as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners. This includes 40 hours of training for pediatric patients as well as an additional 40 hours training in adult patients. The courses are provided and taught at University of California Davis Campus. They also have additional training in the use of the telemedicine video equipment.
Soroptimist President Anne Holden said, “My club is honored to be able to do this. Protecting local women and girls has always been one of our priorities.”
Thanks to the members of Soroptimist International of Ukiah, Ukiah Valley Medical Center (UVMC) Emergency Room installed a new piece of equipment last week. The Soroptimists once again demonstrated their dedication to improving the lives of women and girls; this time, by donating approximately $6,000 to purchase a colposcope. Colposcopes are used during sexual
assault examinations, and can be instrumental in both assessing a patient’s condition and providing details to help apprehend and prosecute those who perpetrate violence against women.
Emergency Department Director Tim Rohan, RN, CCRN, CFRN, CEN said, “I am so grateful to the Soroptimists. The dedication and contributions that they’ve made for the health and welfare of women and young girls in our community is paramount to the health of our community. They are a great group. I love Ukiah, where people take care of each other.”
In addition to enhancing adult exams, the colposcope will be used with UVMC’s telemedicine equipment to provide pediatric sexual assault exams. Local pediatrician Dr. Jeremy Mann and the hospital’s physician partners at UC Davis Medical Center examine children who are victims of sexual abuse. “This is something people don’t want to think about, but we care for abused children in our Emergency Room. The better our equipment, the better we can take care of our pediatric patients—and the more likely we are to help law enforcement and the District Attorneys’ office prosecute these horrific crimes so we can reduce
cases like this,” Rohan said.
Sometimes evidence from the colposcope examination is so convincing, victims do not have to testify in court. The evidence speaks for itself and victims are saved the additional trauma of having to re-live their experience by answering questions
in a court setting.
UVMC does thirty exams per year, eight of them on pediatric patients. Two Emergency Department nurses have special training to work with physicians in Ukiah and with UC Davis Medical Center through Telemedicine. Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) includes nurses from UVMC Lisa Oden, RN, and Kristen Scheck, RN, BSN. Their additional training includes certification as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners. This includes 40 hours of training for pediatric patients as well as an additional 40 hours training in adult patients. The courses are provided and taught at University of California Davis Campus. They also have additional training in the use of the telemedicine video equipment.
Soroptimist President Anne Holden said, “My club is honored to be able to do this. Protecting local women and girls has always been one of our priorities.”