TeleSANE Services in Rural Areas
Document Type
Presentation
Publication Date
2025-05-11
Abstract
Sexual assault (SA) survivors’ access to trauma-informed care (TIC) is a major issue in rural regions due to a lack of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANES) and inadequate healthcare facilities. The teleSANE model provides a possible effective solution by utilizing telehealth approaches to link rural healthcare centers to the SANE nurses. First, this proposed project will evaluate the effectiveness of teleSANE services; second, suggest interventions to advance the participation of nurses in the teleSANE program, and third, use the Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Telehealth (SAFE-T) center model to enhance SA care accessibility in underserved areas. This particular research will focus on a specific healthcare facility in Texas, which lacks a structured SANE program. Through the establishment of a telephone service and the training of emergency department (ED) nurses with basic lessons in how to collect forensic evidence. This proposed project is meant to improve the accessibility and quality of SA-related treatment. The proposed strategy involves several steps based on a phased training and a practice model that involves supervised practice by remote SANEs for the already trained ED nurses. The evidence will be collected based on guidelines developed by International Association of Forensic Nursing (IAFN) and the county crime lab to ensure that it will be properly handled to meet the legal standards of the chain of custody. The research will also focus on the following quantitative measures: the number of forensic examinations conducted, the condition of the patients, collaboration, and teleSANE-supported legal evidence framework. Due to the nature of case review and team debriefing, the enhancement of the factors that should be prioritized will also assist with improving the process. From these components, the project will make a comprehensive assessment to ensure that it provides a sustainable model for common teleSANE services to enhance the quality of patient care delivery in remote areas.
License
1
