HITEQ Highlights: Addressing Intimate Partner Violence and Human Trafficking in the Health Center Setting

Description: The coronavirus pandemic and consequent stay-at-home orders may increase danger for those at risk for or experiencing intimate partner violence and human trafficking (IPV/HT). Due to COVID-19, many health centers have shifted health encounters to virtual platforms, which offer unique opportunities to provide trauma-informed care and connect in new ways with those who may be experiencing abuse. Yet, telehealth and virtual visits also present health centers with new challenges related to privacy, safety and digital health equity. Given these changes in care delivery — and the inclusion of new Uniform Data System (UDS) data elements to capture IPV/HT diagnoses and services — health centers need information about how to identify and support patients at risk for or experiencing IPV/HT and leverage their health IT to provide and document care appropriately.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe how health centers can implement an evidence-based, trauma-informed intervention for IPV/HT called CUES during virtual or in-person visits
2. Review the newly included UDS data elements designed to capture IPV/HT diagnoses and services taking place within health centers
3. Outline key considerations around privacy, safety, and equity for providing care through virtual platforms to patients at risk for or experiencing IPV/HT.
4. Feature promising strategies from health centers that have explored how to utilize health IT to support quality clinical care and data collection for IPV/HT
   Questions?

Please email: healthpartners@futureswithoutviolence.org