The Lake Today

Lake Regional Health System in Osage Beach recently completed renovations on a room specifically equipped to treat victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse. The room is fully stocked with pharmaceuticals and lab supplies, as well as new clothing, a private shower and toiletries for use by victims following an exam.

“The new exam room is unmarked and located away from the Emergency Department, so victims can have more privacy and feel more secure,” said Registered Nurse Dee Ballard with Lake Regional’s ED. “This is especially important for child abuse victims because the abuser actually may have come to the ED with them. By making the victim feel safe, we are more likely to get them to open up and talk about the assault and get them the help they need.”

Ballard and colleagues Stacy Sederwall, Jamie Wheat and Anne Wilson are sexual assault nurse examiners with the Lake Area Sexual Assault Response Team, commonly referred to as SART. Began in 2007, SART is a victim-centered response team that includes medical and law enforcement personnel and professional advocates. SART works with victims at Lake Regional Hospital and Kids’ Harbor, a local program that responds to reports of child abuse.

Services are available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. Professionals staffing the program are highly trained to provide quality, compassionate care and promote safety. They perform thorough examinations, preserve forensic evidence and help victims begin the healing process.

Each victim’s care is coordinated by a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) — a registered nurse who has specialized training to care for victims of sexual and domestic violence. SANEs may specialize in providing care for adolescents and adults (SANE-A) or children (SANE-P).

Lake Regional’s SANEs work with specially trained detectives from the Lake Ozark, Camdenton and Osage Beach police departments, the Camden County Sheriff’s Department and the Marine Division of the Missouri Highway Patrol. Together, they identify injuries resulting from sexual assault trauma, provide assessment, document injuries and use forensic techniques to collect evidence, while maintaining the chain of custody. They also provide expert witness testimony and referrals and work to ensure the safety of children and adults after discharge.

In 2010, SART members responded to 165 cases between Lake Regional Hospital and Kids’ Harbor. In 2011, the number increased to 268 cases.

“Unfortunately, the number of victims we see continues to increase,” Ballard said. “Thus far in 2012, we have seen more cases than we had seen by this time last year.”