Local service profile: St. Joseph's Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre
Domestic and sexual assault
knows know bounds; anyone can
be a victim of assault.
In London, we're lucky to have a resource like St. Joseph's Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre.
"We're a 24-hour program that provides service to men, women and children. There's no one that we turn away," explained Caitlin Cummins, a sexual assault nurse examiner with the centre.
Cummins explained that domestic violence isn't necessarily limited to physical or sexual abuse. "We'll see people if there's any kind of emotional assault going on, like belittling or controlling or anything like that. It's not always physical."
The centre's team — made up of registered nurses who work as sexual assault nurse examiners, nurse practitioners, physicians and a social worker — work together to provide a wide variety of services for those who need help.
"We offer our clients options to suit their needs — whether this be counseling, medical treatment, or more — they are in control of their care choices," said Cummins. The centre offers emotional support, crisis intervention, counseling, physical examinations, pregnancy testing, STI testing, prophylactic medication and documentation of injuries.
The documentation of injury service is one that is unique to the centre. "We can photograph injuries anonymously and store the photos here. Police don't necessarily know about them until the victim decides to go to police, then we can pass (the photos) over," explained Cummins. "It allows the victim to document their injuries, even if they're not sure whether or not they want to go forward with them to the police at the time. It's a really great benefit."
The centre also provides forensic evidence collection by sexual assault evidence kit, available to anyone over the age of 12. "When someone has been assaulted, he or she has 72 hours to complete this kit. It's really looking for any kind of evidence from the perpetrator that can be used in a court to press charges." The kit takes swabs from different parts of the body, as well as urine and blood specimens.
"(The kit) can be done anonymously, so we will know who it was, but the police wouldn't until (the victim) decided to go forward with it, or they can pass it over to the police to open an investigation," said Cummins. "That's also a really nice benefit, along with the photographs; (the victim) can collect that evidence while it's there, and they can decide later if they want to go to police."
In general, all services are provided confidentially, barring extreme circumstances such as a patient threatening to cause harm to him or herself or others; court orders; or violation of child protection laws.
The services provided by the centre are funded almost entirely by your OHIP card, said Cummins. "There should be no fee for the patient, including, too, if transportation is an issue, we'll work with you to get transportation to and from your appointments."
There are lots of organizations around London that provide help and care for those who need it. The centre works closely with many of these other programs. "We all have the same purpose, and we want to make sure that it's seamless for victims to get the help that they need and deserve," said Cummins.
To access the centre:
1. Go to the St. Joseph's Hospital Urgent Care Centre between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Ask to speak to the nurse on call for sexual assault/domestic violence.
2. Go to any emergency department in London, Middlesex, Oxford or Elgin counties and ask to speak to the nurse on call for sexual assault/domestic violence.
3. Call the program during business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) 519-646-6100, ext. 64224 to book an appointment for medical care and/or counselling. For more information, visit sjhc.london.on.ca/sadv.
In London, we're lucky to have a resource like St. Joseph's Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre.
"We're a 24-hour program that provides service to men, women and children. There's no one that we turn away," explained Caitlin Cummins, a sexual assault nurse examiner with the centre.
Cummins explained that domestic violence isn't necessarily limited to physical or sexual abuse. "We'll see people if there's any kind of emotional assault going on, like belittling or controlling or anything like that. It's not always physical."
The centre's team — made up of registered nurses who work as sexual assault nurse examiners, nurse practitioners, physicians and a social worker — work together to provide a wide variety of services for those who need help.
"We offer our clients options to suit their needs — whether this be counseling, medical treatment, or more — they are in control of their care choices," said Cummins. The centre offers emotional support, crisis intervention, counseling, physical examinations, pregnancy testing, STI testing, prophylactic medication and documentation of injuries.
The documentation of injury service is one that is unique to the centre. "We can photograph injuries anonymously and store the photos here. Police don't necessarily know about them until the victim decides to go to police, then we can pass (the photos) over," explained Cummins. "It allows the victim to document their injuries, even if they're not sure whether or not they want to go forward with them to the police at the time. It's a really great benefit."
The centre also provides forensic evidence collection by sexual assault evidence kit, available to anyone over the age of 12. "When someone has been assaulted, he or she has 72 hours to complete this kit. It's really looking for any kind of evidence from the perpetrator that can be used in a court to press charges." The kit takes swabs from different parts of the body, as well as urine and blood specimens.
"(The kit) can be done anonymously, so we will know who it was, but the police wouldn't until (the victim) decided to go forward with it, or they can pass it over to the police to open an investigation," said Cummins. "That's also a really nice benefit, along with the photographs; (the victim) can collect that evidence while it's there, and they can decide later if they want to go to police."
In general, all services are provided confidentially, barring extreme circumstances such as a patient threatening to cause harm to him or herself or others; court orders; or violation of child protection laws.
The services provided by the centre are funded almost entirely by your OHIP card, said Cummins. "There should be no fee for the patient, including, too, if transportation is an issue, we'll work with you to get transportation to and from your appointments."
There are lots of organizations around London that provide help and care for those who need it. The centre works closely with many of these other programs. "We all have the same purpose, and we want to make sure that it's seamless for victims to get the help that they need and deserve," said Cummins.
To access the centre:
1. Go to the St. Joseph's Hospital Urgent Care Centre between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Ask to speak to the nurse on call for sexual assault/domestic violence.
2. Go to any emergency department in London, Middlesex, Oxford or Elgin counties and ask to speak to the nurse on call for sexual assault/domestic violence.
3. Call the program during business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) 519-646-6100, ext. 64224 to book an appointment for medical care and/or counselling. For more information, visit sjhc.london.on.ca/sadv.
