Firearm Safety

Ben Hoffman, MD, MPH
Lindsay D. Clukies, MD, FAAP
Laura Kemerling

From Symptoms to Solutions: Why Hospital Violence Intervention Programs (HVIPs) Are Essential

Lindsay Clukies, MD
James Dodington, MD
Kristen Mueller, MD
Marlene Melzer-Lange, MD
Randi Smith, MD
Kateri Chapman-Kramer, LCSW
Laura Kemerling

Trauma and injury is the number one cause of morbidity and mortality for children in the United States. Every year thousands of injured children are treated in hospitals throughout our country and some of these injuries are considered violent in nature. Data show that victims of interpersonal violence are at elevated risk of re-injury and violence perpetration. Many of the children who have been the victim of interpersonal violence will go on to initiate violence toward others leading to unsafe communities and further injury and death.

Intervening with this patient population while in the hospital is key to a successful hospital-based intervention. Data show that patients are receptive to interventions that promote positive behavior changes during these moments in healthcare settings, making intervening during these teachable moments crucial for long-term success. Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) are multi-disciplinary programs that identify patients at risk of repeat violent injury and then link them with hospital and community based resources aimed at addressing underlying risk factors for violence. Instead of waiting for a patient to seek out support, HVIPs bring trauma-informed care to the patient while in a hospital-based setting. The fundamental basis of HVIPs are to intervene at the bedside and set up intensive, long-term community based case management services following the injury and ultimately altering risk trajectories. They include offering follow up services including crisis intervention, mentoring, home visits, etc. and addressing the Social Determinants of Health and building partnerships with communities and survivors of violence. The support network continues once patients are discharged from the hospital with a pathway for outpatient care and other services.

As medical providers and advocates, we know that patients who are injured often need a multi-disciplinary approach to healing which is why a growing number of hospitals across the nation are embracing HVIPs. HVIP programs are even becoming the standard of care for larger hospitals. But how is such a program created? What type of funding is needed? In this session we will hear from members of some unique and successful HVIPs around our country. We will discuss the pearls and pitfalls to starting a program at your institution and how to set yourself up for long-term success. Attendees will have the opportunity to network and participate in a question and answer session with our speakers.

1. Define what a Hospital Violence Intervention Program (HVIP) is and why they are essential in caring for our patients.
2. Present different examples of unique HVIP initiatives within our IFCK network.
3. Discuss the pearls and pitfalls to starting a program and how to overcome barriers and ensure your program is set up for success.