Forensic examiners volunteer heart, soul to help sexual assault victims

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (March 29, 2016) -- At Womack Army Medical Center, nurses and providers get to be with people on some of the best days of their lives. They're there on days when new parents welcome their child into the world. Days when patients find out they are cancer-free. Days when chronic pain is overcome.

Nurses and providers are also there with patients on some of the worst days of their lives. At WAMC, 20 caregivers volunteer as Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examiners, providing care for victims of sexual assault on one of the worst days of their life.

In preparation for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, WAMC hosted a two-day training event March 17 and 18 as part of the annual required training for the SAMFE program. The training included classroom instruction, the opportunity to tour the courtroom where they might testify and hands-on medical exam and forensic photography training.

"SAMFEs are specially trained for the skills they need as forensic examiners," said Kelly Taylor, WAMC SAMFE Program Manager. "They train to be able to properly collect evidence, identify injuries consistent with sexual assault and to administer full medical exams."

The 20 SAMFEs at Womack are primarily registered nurses assigned to the Emergency Department who volunteer for this additional duty along with two physicians, one physician assistant, a nurse midwife and a few other RNs from other departments. Each forensic examiner serves a minimum of 36 hours on call each month. WAMC averages six to eight cases a month for medical forensic evidence collection.

"We are in keeping with the national shift in the standard of care to have dedicated examiners," said Lt. Col. Wiley, the chief nurse for the WAMC Emergency Department. "The training is standardized Army-wide, but we have one of the most robust programs with an extremely dedicated group of forensic examiners."

WAMC's SAMFE program started in 2008 with a staff of three nurses. In 2011, the hospital hired a full-time manager and has grown the program, which is based out of the Emergency Department, since then.

Taylor said that administering a full kit can take anywhere from four to six hours. She said that the SAMFEs are great resources for victims beyond just being able to administer forensic exams. If the patient does not want to file a report or have an exam, the SAMFE is able to let them know what their options are, who they can talk to and how to navigate their follow-on care.

"It can be very difficult to do this job," said Taylor. "It's a raw and emotional time for the people you're seeing. Even if you're tired. Even if you've seen five patients before this one. This is one person and it's their journey. You owe it to them to give them all your heart, all your soul and all your expertise. Every one of the SAMFEs here are passionate about what they do and about providing victims with the care they need. They do give their heart, soul and expertise every time they enter the room."