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Abused Women and Children

Support for Abused Women and Children

Emergency Rooms and hospitals play a pivotal role in identifying suspected cases of violence. Recognizing this responsibility, in 2009, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza joined the regional project G.I.A.D.A. (Interdisciplinary Group for the Support of Abused Women and Children) with strong commitment.
The project aims to facilitate the reception, care, and protection of victims of violence who arrive at the Emergency Room. This is achieved through collaboration, integration, and synergy within an inter-institutional and interdisciplinary social and healthcare network.


Hospitals must be seen as allies—a safe harbor for those in need.

The Emergency Room, in particular, often becomes a crucial point of contact for victims of violence during their experience of abuse. It is therefore imperative that healthcare professionals receive appropriate training and are equipped with a clear and reliable operational protocol.

As part of the G.I.A.D.A. project, the coordinators at Casa Sollievo, Dr. Maria Antonietta Antini (Emergency Room physician) and Dr. Giuliana Placentino (psychotherapist), have developed a diagnostic and care protocol. Updated to align with the latest national guidelines, it is implemented with the cooperation of all involved professionals. Women and minors who arrive at the Emergency Room are initially assessed by a triage nurse, preferably female, who conducts a quick and concise evaluation to identify potential signs of physical or psychological violence, even when such violence is not explicitly disclosed by the victim.

From that moment onward, an urgent care pathway is activated for the woman, ensuring she receives a prompt medical evaluation in a private and protected space. This environment is designed to minimize the risk of hesitation or voluntary withdrawal, providing a safe and respectful setting where the woman feels heard and her privacy is fully safeguarded.

 

Le referenti di Casa Sollievo del progetto G.I.A.D.A – Maria Antonietta Antini, medico di Pronto Soccorso, e Giuliana Placentino, psicoterapeuta – hanno quindi stilato il seguente protocollo diagnostico assistenziale per adeguarlo alle recenti linee guida nazionali, che viene attuato con la collaborazione di tutti i professionisti coinvolti: le donne e i minori che accedano al Pronto Soccorso vengono accolti subito da un infermiere del Triage, preferibilmente di sesso femminile, il quale, attraverso una prima e veloce anamnesi, cercherà di riconoscere la presenza di segnali di violenza, fisica o psicologica, anche quando questa non è direttamente dichiarata dalla vittima.


Da quel momento in poi, per la donna viene attivato un percorso di urgenza relativa, che le garantisce una visita medica tempestiva in un’area riservata e protetta, pensata per ridurre al minimo il rischio di ripensamenti o allontanamenti volontari e nella quale la donna si senta ascoltata nel totale rispetto della sua privacy.