{"id":92597,"date":"2026-08-14T13:09:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T19:09:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=92597"},"modified":"2026-08-20T14:42:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T20:42:21","slug":"offering-follow-up-care-for-patients-who-experience-violence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/offering-follow-up-care-for-patients-who-experience-violence\/","title":{"rendered":"Offering follow-up care for patients who experience violence"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When a patient arrives in the emergency department (ED) after experiencing sexual assault or strangulation, they are often in acute distress.<\/p>\n

They may not remember everything the care team tells them. They may initially think they don\u2019t want advocacy or access to a therapist. They may need follow-up care but \u2014 once they leave the ED \u2014 are not comfortable asking for it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a lot of trauma, and they don\u2019t want to rehash their trauma,\u201d said Elizabeth Gutierrez, BSN, RN, forensic nurse examiner (FNE) in the UCHealth Northern Colorado Region. \u201cIf they were able to rehash it, that would probably be more successful with somebody who already knows about the trauma.\u201d<\/p>\n

After reviewing 2024 regional data showing that only about 12.4% of sexual assault ED patients sought follow-up care and 4% of strangulation ED patients followed up with their primary care provider for care, Gutierrez championed a program for the nurses to follow up.<\/p>\n

The outpatient FNE follow-up clinic launched this spring to see patients who have experienced violence \u2014 such as intimate partner violence, physical assaults and sexual assaults \u2014 at two freestanding EDs (FSED): UCHealth Emergency Room – Harmony Campus<\/a> and UCHealth Emergency Room – West Greeley<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A few days after an FNE sees a patient at an ED, the team contacts the patient and offers to meet them for an outpatient appointment at one of the FSEDs. The two locations were chosen as options because they tend to have lower volumes than the hospital-based EDs, but they still have security at the entrance. The settings also may be less overwhelming to the patient than returning to the same ED where they were previously seen.<\/p>\n

Gutierrez said the FNEs are cautious when reaching out to the patients, who may be facing dangerous domestic situations. The FSEDs are open 24\/7, and there is flexibility to have the outpatient visit when it is most convenient to the patient \u2014 even if it\u2019s late at night.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever is best for them. We want them to gain some self-worth and independence back,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cGain that control back, because they\u2019ve lost a lot of control from this assault.\u201d<\/p>\n

If the patient doesn\u2019t have transportation, the FNEs are able to coordinate with advocates who can help them get to appointments as well as navigate support available in the community.<\/p>\n

At the appointment, the FNEs can:<\/p>\n