REACH of Macon County held a panel discussion Thursday to celebrate and share details on the launch of its new forensic nursing program.
Members of the public, local leaders and representatives of law enforcement attended the meeting at the Macon County Community Building on July 31. The panel was comprised of REACH leaders and board members, volunteers and forensic nurses who could answer questions about the new program, what it entails and how it will enable REACH to better serve sexual assault survivors in the county and surrounding area.
“For far too long survivors in our community have faced significant barriers in accessing timely forensic medical care,” said Andrea Anderson, executive director of REACH. “This program will ensure 24/7 access to compassionate trauma-informed forensic nursing services right here in Macon County.”
Angel Medical Center previously had a forensic nursing department with several nurses on site consistently, but after a pair of mergers, including a merger with HCA Healthcare, REACH has been unable to secure appointments in-county.
“After the first merger, we observed a significant decline in the number of forensic nurses available at AMC. Following the second merger, there were no longer any active forensic nurses on site,” Anderson said.
Without other options, survivors have had to choose between not receiving treatment after sexual assault or traveling to Asheville to be treated at the Mission Hospital Emergency Room.
REACH Assistant Director Jennifer Turner-Lynn said the need for the new, in-county program became apparent when she and Andy Hall worked with a victim for 17 hours. Being unable to give the victim timely care, Turner-Lynn said she “felt like I had been a part of the system that raped her all over again.”
“We can do better,” she said. “Our communities deserve to have these resources in our community, we should not have to drive anywhere.”
This kicked off the six-year process of developing the new forensic nursing program at REACH — the development of which was slowed down significantly as the COVID-19 pandemic swept through every level of U.S. health infrastructure.
However, the program has been built and was ready to launch on Aug. 1. The program utilizes forensic nurse examiners to privately conduct Sexual Assault Forensic Exams (SAFE kits), collect evidence and document injury, administer medicine if necessary, provide emotional support and refer survivors to additional resources, like advocates or lawyers.
REACH has been working with the Cherokee Indian Hospital’s forensic nurses to conduct forensic exams and help develop the program, which is currently being housed at the office of Dr. Clayton Davis, who volunteered the space for service.
This allows those experiencing sexual assault to skip a visit to the emergency room – many survivors avoid treatment entirely to avoid the costs or lack of privacy at the ER, according to REACH – while keeping all the resources they need for their next steps close at hand.
The services are offered free of charge to anyone reaching out to the center independent of sex, gender, first language or residence. Those receiving examinations or treatment can decide later whether they want to report the incidents.
The program offers a 24-hour forensic hotline – which is 828-369-5544, the same as the standard REACH hotline – where callers may be directed to the forensic nursing department upon request. In case of an emergency call 911.
“Survivors who call or text will be connected with a trained victim advocate who can provide an assessment, crisis counseling, safety assessments and safety planning, as well as information and referrals,” said Anderson. “Advocates can also connect survivors directly to our forensic nursing program, including arranging medical-forensic exams.”
REACH is raising funds for a victim advocacy center, which will be designed to give survivors greater privacy. The building would cost $1.25 million, of which REACH has already raised around $650,000. Once the remaining funds are raised, REACH can continue work on the center, which will also house the forensics nursing program.
Rebecca Bilbrey spoke of her experience with sexual assault as a child, saying she did not have access to the resources REACH is able to offer through the new program. This led to 30 years of struggling with what had happened to her, getting through it “by the grace of God.”
Bilbrey has spent 10 years engaged in victim’s advocacy work. She organizes the Midsummer Night’s Dream Gala fundraiser for REACH, to be held Sept. 20.