Implementing Routine Intimate Partner Violence Screening in a Primary Care Setting

Domestic violence or intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant social and health concern, resulting in 5.8 billion dollars in medical costs annually. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends IPV screening for women of childbearing age, and screening interventions tested among women show that those who talk to their health provider about partner violence are four times more likely to use intervention services. Additionally, research shows that people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) experience IPV at rates similar to or higher than heterosexual women. This webinar will identify unique features of intimate partner violence among LGBT-identified people and describe barriers to accessing support services. Dr. Jennifer Potter, the Medical Director of the Women’s Health Department at Fenway Health; Cara Presley, LICSW, the Director of the Violence Recovery Program in the Behavioral Health Department at Fenway Health; and Catherine Basham, Family Health Coordinator at Fenway Health, will describe a universal IPV screening intervention that has been successfully implemented at an LGBT-focused community health center. This systems based screening strategy includes: 1) staff training; 2) administration of a gender-neutral screening survey; 3) implementation of electronic health record reminders and forms to promote effective documentation/tracking; and 4) creation of a referral process to reliably connect patients to violence recovery and prevention services.