SANE/SART
(Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner/Sexual Assault Response Team)

SANE/SART (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner/Sexual Assault Response Team) was established to provide an immediate, compassionate, multi-disciplinary team response to victims of sexual assault. This program provides 24-hour on-call services for all sexual assault or abuse victims.

Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) is composed of dedicated representatives from law enforcement, social services, advocates (YWCA/Battered Women's Task Force/CASA), nurse examiners, and the office of the District Attorney. The benefits of the team approach are:

Helps prevent victim from reporting the account of sexual assault repeatedly
Helps prevent confusion among professionals trying to meet the needs of the rape victim as he/she progresses through the health care and criminal justice system
Allows team interviews
Provides continuity of care
Enables increased forensic evidence collection, including colposcopic exam
Allows quiet environment and private exam room

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) is a registered nurse, RN, who has advanced education in forensic examination of sexual assault victims. Stormont-Vail Emergency Department currently has nine Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners. The role of the nurse examiner is:

24-hour availability
Obtains a history
Performs health assessment
Performs detailed genital exam
Collects forensic evidence
Documents findings
Refers victims for immediate and follow-up medical care and follow-up counseling
Courtroom testimony

State-of-the art equipment such as colposcopic photography and ultraviolet light source enhances the injury documentation and evidence opportunity. Evidence collected is referred to law enforcement, following a strict chain of custody protocol. The collected evidence assists law enforcement with their investigation and is then referred to the District Attorney.

Stormont-Vail HealthCare is the only Topeka health care facility to offer this service to the community and surrounding areas.

For more information, please call (785) 354-6107.

Click here to return to our Directory of Services.