Southwest Forensic Nursing And Healthcare

Southwest Forensic Nursing & Healthcare is a nurse-led nonprofit organization providing 24/7/365 on-call coverage of forensic nursing services to Washington and Iron County hospitals and clinics. Our team offers services to patients who present with complaints related to sexual violence, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, strangulation, and/or human trafficking. The on-call specialty-trained nurse provides one-on-one care to perform a medical-forensic examination in collaboration with medical providers, community advocates, and when applicable law enforcement. This exam focuses on the patient's healthcare needs but also offers forensic evidence collection to support legal processes chosen by the patient. These detailed exams can take anywhere from 90 minutes to several hours based on patient needs, number of injuries, and interventions required. A forensic nurse provides trauma-informed and patient-centered healthcare while obtaining swabs for DNA analysis, medical forensic photography, and evidence collection and packaging. The medical record is very detailed and supports any future legal proceedings as well as ongoing follow-up care. Our team connects each patient to additional community resources and assists them with prescription filling, making follow-up appointments, and recommended testing to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections or unwanted pregnancy. The team collaborates with local resources to offer emergency shelter, safety planning, and suicide prevention. ALL of our services are offered at no cost to our patients and the services are paid through a variety of donations, grant funding, and crime victims reparations.