| Service Component |
SAFE Program |
Hospitals without a SAFE Program |
| Provide timely, compassionate, victim-centered care that meets the health care needs of victims, provides emotional support and reduces further trauma to the victim. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Provide quality medical care to the patient who reports sexual assault, including screening, evaluation and treatment. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Provide services in compliance with Federal EMTALA requirements for all patients presenting for emergency care. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Maintain current protocols regarding the care of patients reporting sexual assault and for the collection and storage of sexual offense evidence. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Advise the victim of the availability of services provided by a local rape crisis or victim assistance organization, and, secure such services as requested by the patient. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Seek the sexual offense victim's consent for collection and storage of privileged sexual offense evidence. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Consistent with hospital protocols, conduct an evidentiary examination to collect and preserve evidence, in accordance with current forensic techniques and consistent with the Department's Protocol for the Acute Care of the Adult Patient Reporting Sexual Assault. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Ensure the quality of the collection, documentation and preservation of sexual offense evidence. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Discuss with the patient the option of reporting the sexual offense to the police, and, upon the request of the patient, report event to the local law enforcement agency. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Promote staff opportunities for continuing education. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Ensure and monitor for quality, conduct ongoing review and oversight of services provided through the hospital-wide quality assurance program for quality improvement purposes. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Maintain a designated and appropriately equipped, private room in or near the hospital's emergency department to meet the specialized needs of sexual assault patients. Accommodations must include access to a shower and be handicapped accessible. |
Yes |
Recommended |
| Ensure that prophylaxis against pregnancy (emergency contraception) resulting from sexual assault is provided to the patient upon request without delay, unless the patient is already pregnant or the treatment is otherwise medically contraindicated. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Provide each patient with an appropriate and safe discharge, including: medical transfer, as necessary, necessary and appropriate follow-up care/referrals, hospital contact person to assist with release or disposal of sexual offense evidence, suitable attire, transportation or appropriate arrangement, etc., as necessary to meet patient needs. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Collect required data in accordance with statewide data collection activities (*hospitals without SAFE programs must comply with use of E-codes in ER SPARCS data; SAFE programs must comply with all data submission requirements.)* |
Yes |
Yes* |
| Maintain a supply and provide to patients, as medically indicated, prophylaxis for sexually transmitted diseases and hepatitis B. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Maintain a supply of and provide an initial supply to patients, as medically indicated, of prophylaxis for HIV. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Establish an organized program/service specifically to carry out and oversee the provision of sexual assault services. This would include the development and implementation of policies and procedures, detailing staffing requirements, initiating and conducting community outreach programs, participating in an organized data collection system, and routinely following-up with patients/law enforcement officials and crime laboratory personnel regarding evidence collection activities. |
Yes |
Recommended |
| Designate a program coordinator to exercise administrative and clinical oversight for the program. |
Yes |
Recommended |
| Ensure that the program includes a cohort of specially trained individuals (SAFEs) who have been prepared through an intensive classroom and preceptor training program and have been certified by NYSDOH to conduct sexual assault exams (see attached SAFE Standards for individual providers). |
Yes |
Recommended |
| Establish/participate in an interdisciplinary task force that includes local Rape Crisis Centers and other service agencies, and law enforcement representatives/ local prosecutors to develop services that meet community need and to ensure that quality victim services are available. |
Yes |
Recommended |
| Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners on-site or on-call available to the patient within 60 minutes of arriving at the hospital, except under exigent circumstances. |
Yes |
Recommended |
| Routinely use the New York State Evidence Collection Kit, if the patient consents to have evidence collected. Use the drug facilitated sexual assault kit, where appropriate. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Coordinate outreach activities in the community and with other hospitals to share best practices, provide training opportunities and promote the availability of the program, to the extent feasible. |
Yes |
Recommended |
| Participate in regional and statewide quality assurance initiatives designed to measure program effectiveness and meet reporting requirements. |
Yes |
Recommended |
