The Massachusetts Department of Public Health TeleSANE Center

Description

Sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE) are nurses who receive specialized training to provide trauma-informed care, including medical/forensic exams and forensic evidence collection, for patients who have been sexual assaulted. While all states have some level of SANE services, it is a challenge in all states to provide SANE services at all hospitals, especially in rural locations. In 1995, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) started the Massachusetts SANE program, deploying SANEs to care for sexual assault patients. Currently, an in-person SANE response is provided in 39 hospitals across Massachusetts.

From 2012 to 2018, the MDPH received funds from the Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to develop and pilot the National TeleNursing Center (NTC). Using secure telehealth software, NTC linked expert SANEs to clinicians in rural and underserved areas in three states (Arizona, California, and Massachusetts) to assist with examinations for patients who experienced sexual assault. SANEs who provide these remote services are referred to as TeleSANEs.

The MDPH SANE Program developed a professional TeleSANE practice model based on Dr. Joanne Duffy's Quality Caring Model©. The MDPH TeleSANE practice model consists of three phases — pre-encounter, encounter, and post-encounter — with each phase focused on supporting the patient and the clinician providing care to ensure a quality, trauma-informed patient experience.

When the federal grant funding ended in 2018, the NTC became the MDPH TeleSANE Center. The center is now supported with state funding and provides TeleSANE services to 15 hospitals across Massachusetts — including four in rural counties — with plans to expand over the next few years. The goal of the TeleSANE service is to increase the confidence and competence of clinicians in performing a medical forensic exam, including forensic evidence collection, as well as to ensure a trauma-informed experience for patients. Findings from a medical forensic exam and evidence collection may be used to prosecute offenders if a case proceeds to a criminal trial.

From the center's headquarters at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, 21 TeleSANEs provide 24-7 on-call coverage. When a patient who has been sexually assaulted presents to a partner hospital, the on-call nurse is notified and arrives at Newton-Wellesley Hospital within the hour to provide remote assistance. TeleSANEs are also able to respond from private and secure MDPH-approved home offices which allows for an immediate response and connection with partner hospitals and patients.

MDPH TeleSANE Center staff continue to make a national impact as members of the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) TeleSAFE Technical Assistance (TA) Team. In this role, they are currently supporting four OVC grantees — Alaska, South Dakota, Texas, and Arkansas — as they work to create their own statewide TeleSANE centers and adapt the MDPH TeleSANE model for their patient populations.

Services offered

• TeleSANEs offer support and guidance to clinicians on the use of Massachusetts Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits. The kits include forms to document a patient's assault history and their physical exam findings and provide methods to collect forensic evidence.
• After the examination, TeleSANEs review documentation, packing of forensic evidence specimens, and chain of custody procedures with the clinician.
• TeleSANEs debrief with the clinician to help review and process the experience. Because these situations can be emotionally taxing and rural clinicians may have less experience in conducting such exams, debriefing is key.
• Clinicians are offered continued education regarding sexual assault and forensic evidence collection.

Results

As of June 2024, the MDPH TeleSANE Center has assisted in the care of over 960 patients. A majority of clinicians who have used their services say that the support has helped them feel more comfortable throughout the examination process.

Before TeleSANEs engage in patient care, patient consent must be obtained. According to data collected between 2015 and 2018, the overall patient consent rate was 86%. The consent rate for patients at non-U.S.-Navy sites was 97%. During this same time period, 92% of TeleSANE encounters were reported to have involved no significant technology issues.

Publications

Using Telehealth for Pediatric, Adolescent, and Adult Sexual Assault Forensic Medical Examinations: An Integrative Review, by Wendy A. Walsh and Joan Meunier-Sham (Journal of Forensic Nursing, 2020; 16(4):232-239), offers a comprehensive review of recent research examining the effectiveness of TeleSANE services.

Using Telehealth for Sexual Assault Forensic Examinations: A Process Evaluation of a National Pilot Project, by Wendy A. Walsh, Joan Meunier-Sham, and Cheryl Re (Journal of Forensic Nursing, 2019; 15(3): 152–162), summarizes findings from the 2012-2018 NTC pilot project.

Laying the Foundation for the National TeleNursing Center: Integration of the Quality-Caring Model Into TeleSANE Practice, by Joan Meunier-Sham, Rachel M. Preiss, Randi Petricone, Cheryl Re, and Leah Gillen (Journal of Forensic Nursing, 2019; 15(3), 143–151), provides a detailed description of the MDPH TeleSANE Professional Practice Model.

Examples of the MDPH TeleSANE Professional Practice Model are included in Quality Caring in Nursing and Health Systems: Implications for Clinicians, Educators and Leaders, 4th Edition, by Dr. Joanne Duffy (Springer Publishing, 2022).

Challenges

Clinicians at remote sites have varying levels of experience treating patients who have been sexually assaulted. Many have either not been trained or have limited opportunities to use their training due to the many barriers that survivors face in coming forward. This is especially true in remote or rural communities, in which it is difficult to achieve anonymity. It is important for TeleSANEs to assess the skill level and clinical experience of the clinician they are supporting. Providing some baseline training for clinicians at remote hospitals regarding the principles of trauma-informed care and the use of the Commonwealth's evidence collection kits has been extremely helpful. However, expert TeleSANEs are trained to work with clinicians at all experience levels to provide a quality patient experience.

Replication

Start your program with a strong team and continue to build on that foundation. Be selective when hiring new TeleSANEs. Prerequisites of MDPH TeleSANE Center nurses include three years of experience as a practicing SANE, experience in a preceptor/coaching role, and a recommendation from their supervising nurse. The nurses go through an interview process that includes an assessment of their on-camera presence and ability to teach remotely. Once hired, they complete additional training and perform clinical practicums as needed to ensure clinical competence. TeleSANEs are also required to renew their certification as a MDPH SANE on a yearly basis.

Contact Information

Randi Petricone, MSN, RN, WHNP-BC, SANE, Associate Director
MDPH TeleSANE Center
781.915.7155
randi.petricone@mass.gov