The Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team of Baltimore County recently named Audrey Bergin, coordinator of the Domestic Violence Programs at Northwest Hospital Center, as its only health care representative. The Review Team was established to identify and remedy gaps in services and understand the circumstances leading up to and resulting in domestic violence-related homicides or suicides.

“Representation of the health care community on the Review Team is important as we often interact with victims who have been injured,” said Bergin. “The accrediting body in health care requires all emergency departments to screen people for domestic violence. Women exposed to violence in the home many times complain about migraines, chronic pelvic pain, depression, anxiety and other health problems. These screenings often enable us to help before the situation escalates.”

Baltimore County’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team also includes directors for the county’s domestic violence service providers, in addition to members from the state’s attorney’s office; Baltimore County Police Department; the county’s Health and Social Services Departments, Parole and Probation as well as the Baltimore County Office of Law. The Review Team is presently working on setting up the protocol and is expected to begin reviewing cases in fall 2006.

“The main responsibility of the Review Team is not to investigate the actual homicide, but to take a deeper look at the details leading up to it and identify places were the system can improve in the future to prevent such outcomes,” Bergin explained.

Anne Arundel County, Montgomery County and Calvert County already have established Domestic Violence Fatality Review teams. Baltimore City is the process of putting a team together.

The Domestic Violence Program at Northwest Hospital Center began in fall of 2004 and is one of only four hospital-based domestic violence intervention programs in Maryland. In addition to providing education to medical staff, the program provides victims of domestic violence information regarding safety planning, available shelter and legal options as well as crisis counseling, advocacy and referrals to community resources.

Northwest Hospital Center is a member of LifeBridge Health, a regional health organization, which includes Sinai Hospital, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, Jewish Convalescent & Nursing Home, and related subsidiaries and affiliates.

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