DETROIT, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Like an episode of the TV drama "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners gather DNA and other evidence from victims and suspects in sexual assault cases. Wayne County will open its first SAFE clinic, the W.C. SAFE clinic, thanks in part to funding from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network.
To mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, the Michigan Blues today announced a grant of $26,500 toward operating expenses for the W.C. SAFE Clinic scheduled to open in first-quarter 2005 at St. John Northeast Campus at 4777 East Outer Dr. in Detroit.
Data gathered from existing SAFE clinics in other locations (sometimes called SANE clinics for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) indicate that the clinics help to improve conviction rates* and reduce the chance of contaminating evidence, while saving hospitals money by reducing emergency room use. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners also ensure victims receive sensitive treatment and examination -- away from the hectic environment of the emergency room or police station -- and referrals for appropriate follow-up care for medical and emotional needs.
"The W.C. SAFE clinic will be the first in Wayne County," said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. "With more than a thousand rapes reported in Wayne County last year, the need for a SANE clinic is urgent. This is a win- win situation. SANE will ensure that needs of our victims will be met as well as enhancing our ability to successfully prosecute cases by gathering evidence in a controlled setting. This will have a major impact in fighting crime."
"St. John is proud to partner with the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners program to provide this very important service to our clients and all women who live in Detroit and Wayne County," said Nancy Degroote, St. John Health corporate director of Community Health. "The W.C. SAFE clinic will help alleviate delays in collecting evidence, which often occur due to emergency department physicians' obligation to give top priority to major traumas, cardiac problems and other life-threatening conditions."
"This grant is part of our Social Mission Health Initiative focusing on domestic abuse and violence prevention," said Diana Jones, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan vice president of Community Affairs. "Since more than 70 percent of Michigan's 4,216 reported victims of sexual assault during 2003 knew their assailants, the connection between domestic abuse and sexual assault is clear. We are glad to be a supporter of this important facility."
For more information on the SANE program, visit the International Association of Forensic Nurses Web site at http://www.iafn.org/ .
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network aim to improve the health status of Michigan residents with a Social Mission that focuses on four key community health issues: Access to Health Care, Depression Awareness and Treatment, Domestic Violence and Abuse Prevention, and Physical Activity and Nutrition.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit corporation, provides health care benefits to nearly 4.8 million members through a variety of plans: Traditional, Blue Preferred and Community Blue PPOs, Blue Choice Point of Service, and the Blue Care Network HMO. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information visit http://www.bcbsm.com/ .
* A SANE program in Wisconsin reports a 100 percent conviction rate (in cases where a SANE testified at trial) directly attributed to the quality of evidence collected and the knowledgeable testimony of the nurse examiners.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; Blue Care NetworkCONTACT: Cheryl McDonald of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan,+1-313-225-8121, mediarelations@bcbsm.com