Going to the hospital can be intimidating for victims of sexual assault. The forensic nurses at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, the only county hospital with sexual abuse specialists, want to change that.
The 13-year-old Sexual Abuse and Assault Center, recently renamed the Forensic Medical Unit, moved into an expanded space in the Rockville hospital last month. The unit, which has a private entrance, will have a grand opening in January to coincide with the first anniversary of the federal Violence Against Women act, which allows health providers to collect and save biological evidence from victims anonymously if they have not decided whether to report the assault to police.
The center’s 10 forensic nurse examiners conduct medical exams, collect forensic evidence, document injuries, test for sexually transmitted diseases, provide mental health or follow-up care and testify in court if a victim decides to press charges, according to Heidi Bresee, coordinator of the Forensic Medical Unit, which has a partnership with the county.
