Albany, N.Y.-based St. Peter's Health Partners and United Concierge Medicine, a telemedicine provider, launched a program to improve medical care of individuals who have been sexually assaulted.
TeleSAFE will allow emergency departments without a certified sexual assault forensic examiner to contact UCM's virtual emergency room SAFE-certified providers to assist with medical and forensic exams through video.
Through the program, a TeleSAFE provider can walk any ED clinician through the exam using telemedicine technology. The TeleSAFE provider can assist with taking a history of the patient's assault, collecting photographic and forensic evidence. After the exam, the TeleSAFE provider can also help with completing documentation and ordering any additional tests or medication.
"Access to SAFE providers is a public health crisis disproportionally impacting small and rural hospitals," United Concierge Medicine CEO Keith Algozzine said in a news release. "No one should be denied timely care because the hospital has no SAFE-certified provider available."
The pilot program launched in 46 New York hospitals without SAFE-certified providers. It received $2.85 million in funding from the New York State Office of Victim Services and a $300,000 grant from the New York State Department of Health.