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The health care team at the Frederick Medical Center of Kaiser Permanente continually searches for better ways to help victims of domestic violence.
The health-care giant estimates that one in four adult women and one in 14 adult men are victims of domestic violence at some point in their lives.
Kaiser Permanente has a corporate-wide prevention program, and all Kaiser doctors are trained in how to detect and treat domestic violence, said Bonnie Fitleberg, a family practice physician and team leader for the doctors at the Frederick Medical Center.
The program offers patients a supportive environment as a first step in the healing process.
“We want to empower patients to disallow the abuse,” Fitleberg said. “Patients can lead a more resourceful and positive life, and they can thrive.”
The prevention program also offers a startling extra: silentWitness, Kaiser employees’ stories of domestic abuse in their own words.
The stories are featured on Kaiser’s website. Names are not revealed. Photographs are not actual employees.
“Even though I am a physician and frequently counsel patients in similar circumstances, I did not recognize that I was experiencing domestic violence,” said one Kaiser employee.
Kaiser also displays the stories in medical centers around the country.
In Kaiser’s mid-Atlantic region, the display rotates through 29 medical centers, including Frederick, said Amy Goodwin, director of media relations for that region.
All Kaiser medical centers include domestic violence brochures, small laminated posters and wallet-size cards.
Often the abuser is with the patient, so patients can easily slip the wallet-size cards into a purse or shoe, Goodwin said.
Health professionals assume everyone may need help, Fitleberg said.
Health workers look for physical signs such as bruising. Patients’ sad mood or attempt to avoid discussing how they feel can tip off health-care workers that something is wrong, Fitleberg said.
“Patients can come to us and know that they are safe because of doctor-patient confidentiality,” she said. “Nothing is done without the person’s knowledge, and the patient can take the necessary steps to end the abuse.”
Fitleberg and her team of doctors meet monthly and assess the quality of their care. Fitleberg also attends regional meetings once a month.
Fitleberg’s team also has an open forum to discuss the best strategies.
“Each participant offers tips that have worked for them, and these may be of use to other doctors here and at other Kaiser centers,” Fitleberg said.
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