UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Telehealth (SAFE-T) System recently received the 2023 Pennsylvania Rural Health Program of the Year Award for its person-centered, evidence-based and trauma-informed forensic care for victims of sexual assault across the commonwealth.
The award recognizes an exemplary health program that addresses an identified need in a rural community by utilizing unique, creative and innovative approaches to tackle that need. It was presented by Lisa Davis, director of the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH) and outreach associate professor of health policy and administration at Penn State, in honor of National Rural Health Day, Nov. 16, and Rural Health Week in Pennsylvania, Nov. 13-17.
Established in 2017, the SAFE-T System is an equitable access model for healing care that delivers telehealth support and guidance during sexual assault forensic exams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure patients take their first step towards healing in a familiar, local environment. Working closely with rural community partners, including advocacy, law enforcement, district attorneys, and regional and state government officials, the SAFE-T System provides a comprehensive approach to access to specialty care and improved patient outcomes.
“This award is a testament to the power of collaboration and partnership,” said Sheridan Miyamoto, founder and director of the SAFE-T Center and associate professor of nursing. “None of our achievements would have been possible without the strong health partners we have had the privilege to work with in rural communities ... thank you for being champions of innovation to bring specialty care to your communities.”
Cynthia Bittner, assistant director of the SAFE-T Center, stressed the importance of collaboration with their Pennsylvania rural hospital partners.
“Rural hospitals may be small, but they are mighty,” Bittner said. “For these hospital leaders, ensuring that their community has access to high quality sexual assault forensic medical care is a strategic priority.”
The SAFE-T System team said that by improving access to quality sexual assault care through connecting nurses in rural areas and marginalized communities with Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) via telehealth, victims will start on their path of healing and justice from day one. Since it began in 2017, the SAFE-T System has had a positive impact on patient recovery and healing, with 92% reporting that they felt better after the examination. Over 88% of victims with pre-examination worries felt those worries were alleviated during the SAFE-T System examinations in their local hospitals.
However, Miyamoto, who is also a Social Science Research Institute co-funded faculty member, said that while she is grateful for the ability to reflect on the SAFE-T Center’s impact to date, there is still so much more to do when it comes to addressing sexual violence in this country.
“Every day, there are people who experience violence and abuse, but many communities do not have access to SANE care that promotes healing and justice,” Miyamoto said. “The local nurses who rise to the challenge of this work and the brave individuals who have been harmed and seek care continue to inspire us and fuel us to continue our mission to make access to specialty care the new standard.”
About the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health
The PORH began in 1991 as a partnership between the federal government, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Penn State. The office is one of 50 state offices of rural health in the country that serve as the source of technical assistance, coordination, networking and partnership development to advance access to high-quality health care in rural communities and increase the health status of rural residents. Located in the department of health policy and administration in the College of Health and Human Development, the office provides expertise in the areas of rural health, population health, quality improvement, oral health, agricultural health and safety, and more.