New training will help sexual assault victims

WORLAND – Washakie Medical Center has a group of registered nurses now certified to perform sexual assault exams on victims.

“The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Team is a group of registered nurses who have received specialized training and provide compassionate care to adult, adolescent and pediatric patients impacted by sexual assault and abuse,” according to a press release from Banner Health WMC.

Previously, victims had to travel over an hour for the exam to the next closest SANE location in Powell, over 85 miles away, it stated.

“Launched in March, the program provides care to sexual assault victims … and SANE can:

•Perform examinations and collection of evidence.

•Serve as subpoenaed witnesses to give testimony regarding the care and evidence found in the exams.

•Provide 24/7 coverage for any patient that has been sexually assaulted.

•Prescribe prophylactic medications for sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy prevention.

To decision to bring SANE to Washakie Medical Center was “to meet growing needs of the community” and “alleviate drive time and concern for local victims by offering all services in one location.”

“It is important to provide support and assistance to victims in a safe environment,” said LeGay Parks Naseath, chief nursing officer at Washakie Medical Center.

“Requiring victims to travel for SANE exams only prolongs their wait and increases their anxiety. We want to help these victims locally to avoid the added stress of going outside the area for their examination and evidence collection,” Parks Naseath said.

Jeanne Core, Crisis Prevention & Resource director, agreed and said, “When someone needs to have a biological evidence kit, people call those a rape kit, nurses who are trained to do that evidence collection makes it easier for victims. It’s really traumatic to have that done and it decreases their [a victim’s] trauma to have people do it who are trained, understand and know what they’re doing.”

According to Bob Vines, victim/witness coordinator in Washakie County, local law enforcement refers about 10 sexual assault and abuse victims to Washakie Medical Center every year, with children being the majority of victims. With a population of about 5,500 people, Worland is a small community that gives priority to assault cases, Vines said.

The city of Worland prides itself on its partnership with Washakie Medical Center, local law enforcement and the Washakie County Attorney’s Office in providing more resources for victims of assault and abuse, he said.