October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Oct. 14 is Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day, a day for the medical community to take a stand against domestic abuse. Along with domestic violence advocates and law enforcement, health care providers are among the first to see and respond to domestic abuse. While the Maine Center for Disease Control notes that crime in Maine is declining, our state’s rate of domestic violence has increased.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, there are nearly 2.2 million medically treated injuries due to intimate partner violence every year, and 47 percent of intimate partner homicide victims are seen by health care providers in the year prior to their deaths. Screening patients — that is, inquiring about domestic abuse — is an opportunity to intervene in a domestic abuse situation before it escalates physically or becomes lethal.

Understandably, many victims of domestic violence do not disclose abuse in the first few screenings. Fear and embarrassment can make it hard for them to reach out to others. By providing regular, universal screenings, health care professionals can significantly increase the likelihood that a victim will get help. The hospital is an ideal environment for screening as health care providers can offer patients privacy and confidentiality. Many health care professionals already screen patients as part of their routine examinations.

After a patient discloses abuse, he or she can then work with the physician, nurse or other medical professional to create a safety plan, which often includes referrals to domestic violence projects like the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project (AWAP). There is no mandated reporting law for intimate partner abuse, so these screenings can remain confidential.

The Maine chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility has partnered with local domestic violence advocates throughout the state to train physicians on how to screen for abuse. According to their Web site, they have trained nearly 1,000 health care providers since 1994. Locally, Central Maine Medical Center partners with AWAP to provide clinical screening training to all direct-care providers.

In addition, both CMMC and Tri-County Mental Health of Lewiston have been pro-active in developing workplace policies to protect and support their employees. Similar education efforts are being initiated at Central Maine Medical Family in Rumford and Western Maine Health in the Oxford Hills area.

These efforts are part of a coordinated community response to domestic violence. This multi-prong approach provides a network of support to victims while sending the message that we will not tolerate abuse in our community. Domestic violence affects everyone, and the more awareness and training that is available, the better equipped we are as a community to help one another. Partnerships between health care providers and domestic violence advocates allow both groups to share expertise and collaborate toward creating greater safety for everyone. AWAP is always eager to develop new relationships and build upon existing ones.

Medical professionals are leaders in our communities, but they can also be beacons of hope to the millions of individuals living with domestic violence. AWAP provides a variety of educational programming and is happy to train medical personnel on the screening process. On Oct. 14, we encourage celebration of Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day and contacting local domestic violence projects for more information.

For anyone concerned about, or who are currently experiencing,  abuse, there are ways to get help. AWAP operates a 24-hour helpline (1-800-559-2927) for Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin counties, as well as any other individuals in need of services.

Victoria Williams is the community educator at the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project in Auburn. E-mail [email protected].