The Evangelical Community Hospital Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program was established in 1994 thanks largely to now retired nurse, Darlene Rowe, former Director of Emergency Services. Twenty-five years later, the program remains strong, serving victims within a wide geographical area in north central PA. The SANE program operates 24/7 at Evangelical Community Hospital, in Lewisburg, which is about 60 miles north of Harrisburg.
Keys to their success include:
Dedicated Nurses:
The SANE team is a small but mighty force of nurses. Rachel Gordner, the SANE Coordinator who also covers emergency pediatric forensic exams, describes feeling blessed and lucky to have nurses who are so passionate and committed. Their goal is to work as a team, and they do so. They know that on-call time can be a burden and they deal with difficult situations when providing exams. Support for each other through meetings is key, and they also readily cover for each other when someone needs time off or has scheduled vacation. At times, the SANEs are called to testify in cases, as their forensic skill is used in the criminal justice system.
Supportive Hospital Administration:
The administration set up a designated waiting area and separate exam room for victims of sexual assault and rape. Once a victim enters the emergency department, they are shown to a comfortable waiting room. Then, they are brought to a private area which includes an exam room, interview room, and bathroom with a shower. This space offers privacy and security. An advocate from Transitions, the local rape crisis center, is always available for victims throughout the process and to offer information, resources, and services.
SANEs also receive on-call pay and a set stipend and hourly rate when called in to provide an exam. This system of equitable reimbursement eliminates any pay disparity if the nurses are on different pay scales.
Support and partnership from allied organizations:
In addition to a strong SANE program at the hospital, Lewisburg’s county, Union, and neighboring Snyder County, have solid Sexual Assault Response Teams. A SART is comprised of law enforcement, advocates from the local rape crisis centers, prosecution, healthcare personnel, and other entities such as child protective services, aging services, schools, universities, and other community service entities. The SARTs meet regularly to review protocols and practices around responses to sexual assault, human trafficking, and domestic violence. Both county SARTs receive STOP funding (Services Training Officers and Prosecutors) from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency which helps support these efforts. Evangelical Community Hospital provides exams to victims in both counties.
An enduring bond exists between Evangelical’s SANE Program and Transitions. Susan Mathias, chief executive officer, describes Transitions as “part of the fabric of the community response to sexual assault victims.” Transitions is a large supporter of not only the SANE program but is also a provider of services and education throughout the hospital. Together, Evangelical and Transitions have developed a protocol on human trafficking and provides training on a system-wide level at the healthcare facility.
Together, these key elements provide the foundation for a successful program.
SANEs are able to provide each victim with services and are able to intervene and interact in what may be the most traumatic event in their eyes. “When someone comes in after a traumatic event, to the SANE program, to safe people, a safe place, that’s a testament as to why people come to Evangelical," Gordner said.
That is success.