Sinai Hospital-based Violence Response Team
The Violence Response Team (VRT) of Sinai Hospital is comprised of
specially trained individuals who assist patients experiencing trauma
and/or injury as a result of an act of violence with resources to improve
their health and well-being, lessen the impact of trauma, and decrease the
likelihood of the reoccurrence of violence. VRT is a 24/7 crisis response
program designed to assist those who are victims of domestic violence also
known as intimate partner violence, community violence, and elder abuse.
Our goal is to ensure safety, offer emotional support, and connect
patients to comprehensive community-based services and resources.
Definitions:
Community Violence (CV) is exposure to intentional acts of interpersonal
violence perpetrated by individuals who are not intimately related to the
victim.
Elder Abuse (EA) is physical, emotional, or sexual harm inflicted upon an
older adult. It also includes financial exploitation or neglect of an
older adult’s welfare by people who are directly responsible for their
care.
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is physical, emotional, psychological, or
sexual acts that are purposely committed by an intimate partner to hurt or
injure the other partner as a means of gaining power and control over that
partner. Intimate partner abuse occurs in all races, socio-economic
levels, and religious communities as well as same-sex relationships.
Thanks to federal, city, and private funding, the Violence Response Team
(VRT) is able to offer services free of charge to anyone in need of
support. VRT offers the following services:
-
In-hospital crisis intervention for those experiencing intimate partner
violence, community violence and elder abuse
- Safety planning
- Medical advocacy for those treated at Sinai Hospital
-
Court accompaniment and advocacy (emotional support during legal
proceedings)
-
Case management (in-person and telehealth) which consists of safety
planning, goal setting, education and resource connection
- Individual counseling (in-person and telehealth)
- Support group for those experiencing intimate partner violence
- Transportation to and from medical and court appointments
-
Staff education and training on domestic violence, community violence,
and elder abuse
- Resource connection
VRT’s goal is to eliminate patient re-injury, and subsequent hospital
readmission due to intimate partner violence, community violence and elder
abuse.