Are you ready for JCAHO?- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
Are you ready for JCAHO?- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
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November 17, 2000
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In This Issue:
New Buildings part of plan to meet space challenges
Tufts, Question 5 Discussed at Town Meeting
Friends Announce New Board of Directors
Bright Horizons is Open
Cotran Memorial Service
JCAHO Fair
Another Commuter Option: Vanpool
Gift Shop Employee Appreciation Days
Mother's Day Compensation
Bretholtz Center to open late November
Are you ready for JCAHO?
Ask Yourself: How Is Domestic Violence Addressed at BWH?
Domestic violence is defined as a systematic and coercive pattern of behaviors that is harmful physically and emotionally and is intended to gain power and control over one’s partner in an intimate relationship. It may include any or all of the following types of abuse: sexual, emotional, psychological, verbal, physical, economic/financial, threats, harassment, intimidation, isolation and deprivation of basic needs and basic human rights. An abusive partner (also referred to as “batterer” or “abuser”) will use whatever makes a partner vulnerable (e.g. illness, legal status) to maintain control. Domestic violence affects people from all racial/ethnic, socio-economic, age and religious groups and occurs in same-sex and heterosexual relationships. Women are victims in 95 percent of reported domestic violence incidents (U.S. Department of Justice). Domestic violence is an issue that affects all homes, workplaces and communities. It costs businesses $3-5 million annually in diminished productivity and increased health care costs, absenteeism and employee turnover. Universal screening, often deemed the best way to identify domestic abuse, gives providers knowledge about factors influencing a patient’s health and informs patients that their providers can offer support and resources if domestic abuse is an issue. All providers should know the signs of abuse, but should not restrict their screening to potential indicators. Passageway, BWH’s domestic violence intervention program, was established in 1997 to assist patients and employees who are unsafe, controlled, threatened or hurt by current or former intimate partners. The program develops and supports coordinated responses to domestic violence within BWH and the community, including screening and intervening safely with patients and employees. Passageway services are free, voluntary and confidential. Patients can access Passageway advocates through a Care Coordination social work referral. Employees may contact Passageway directly at ext. 8753 for consultation, to request a training session or for more information about Passageway services.