Can Telehealth Provide Timely and Equitable Quality Medical Forensic Services? Perspectives of Illinois Hospital Administrators.

IF 1 4区 医学 Q3 CRIMINOLOGY & PENOLOGY
Journal of Forensic Nursing Pub Date : 2023-10-01 Epub Date: 2023-06-15 DOI:10.1097/JFN.0000000000000444
Marlise Jeanne Pierre-Wright, Lisa Mathey, Heather J Risser
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction: Research has shown the viability of telehealth consultations to provide medical forensic services, particularly in areas with a dearth of medical examiners. This study examined Illinois hospital administrators' willingness to utilize telehealth to meet new requirements under Illinois Public Act 100-0775, which intends to increase timely access to quality forensic examiners. Consequently, as of March 2021, roughly half of Illinois hospitals unable to meet these requirements have opted not to treat some or all patients presenting for medical forensic services of sexual assault.

Methods: We surveyed and conducted in-depth interviews (between October 2020 and April 2021) with 65 hospital administrators responsible for implementing Illinois Public Act 100-0775. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyze survey results.

Results: Our study found limited staffing resources and difficulties educating and training new forensic medical examiners were the major barriers to providing acute medical forensic services. The overwhelming majority of respondents (95%) saw opportunities to use telehealth across all aspects of the medical forsenic evaluation. Barriers to implementing telehealth included perceived patient discomfort with telehealth technology and current legislative restrictions.

Discussion: Legislative efforts to mandate timely access to qualified medical forensic examiners can unintentionally exacerbate disparities in access to care. Illinois hospital administrators are receptive to utilizing telehealth to improve access to forensic examiners, particularly in lower-resourced hospitals.

Conclusion: One method for responding to staffing shortages and improving equitable access to forensic sexual assault services may include implementing networks of qualified forensic examiners that support on-site clinicians in lower-resourced areas via telehealth.

远程医疗能否提供及时、公平、优质的法医医疗服务?伊利诺伊州医院管理者的观点。
导言:研究表明,通过远程保健咨询提供法医医疗服务是可行的,特别是在缺乏法医的地区。本研究调查了伊利诺伊州医院管理人员利用远程医疗的意愿,以满足伊利诺伊州公共法案100-0775的新要求,该法案旨在增加及时获得高质量法医的机会。因此,截至2021年3月,约有一半无法满足这些要求的伊利诺伊州医院选择不治疗部分或所有前来接受性侵犯医疗法医服务的患者。方法:我们对65名负责实施伊利诺伊州公共法案100-0775的医院管理人员进行了调查和深度访谈(2020年10月至2021年4月)。采用描述性统计分析对调查结果进行分析。结果:本研究发现,人力资源有限,新法医学检验人员教育培训困难是提供急诊法医服务的主要障碍。绝大多数答复者(95%)认为有机会在法医鉴定的各个方面使用远程保健。实施远程保健的障碍包括认为患者对远程保健技术感到不适以及目前的立法限制。讨论:要求及时获得合格法医鉴定的立法努力可能无意中加剧获得护理方面的差距。伊利诺伊州的医院管理人员愿意利用远程医疗来改善法医检查的机会,特别是在资源不足的医院。结论:应对人员短缺和改善公平获得法医性侵犯服务的一种方法可能包括实施合格法医审查员网络,通过远程保健支持资源不足地区的现场临床医生。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
1.50
自引率
10.00%
发文量
120
期刊介绍: The Journal of Forensic Nursing (JFN) the official journal of the International Association of Forensic Nurses, is a groundbreaking publication that addresses health care issues that transcend health and legal systems by articulating nursing’s response to violence. The journal features empirical studies, review and theoretical articles, methodological and concept papers, and case reports that address the provision of care to victims and perpetrators of violence, trauma, and abuse. Topics include interpersonal violence (sexual assault, abuse, intimate partner violence); death investigation; legal and ethical issues; forensic mental health nursing; correctional nursing; and emergency and trauma nursing.
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