171 Ashley Ave.
Charleston, SC 29425
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800-424-MUSC
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March 2007
Feature Story
Improved child abuse program serves more kids, trains more medical professionals
With more funds and a beefed-up staff, the Children's Hospital's child abuse and neglect program doubled the number of local children it served over the last year.
The program provided medical services to nearly 1,000 children and adolescents in 2006, twice the number reached in the previous year.
"We anticipate that it will grow another 50 percent, and possibly 100 percent, over the next two years." says Dr. Anne Abel, a forensic pediatrician who became director of the MUSC program a year ago.
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| Dr. Anne Abel |
The forensic pediatrics team, as the newly formed group is called, has grown from just one half-time pediatrician to now include Dr. Abel, a full-time pediatric nurse practitioner, several part-time nurse practitioners and an administrative assistant. More manpower is on the way: the team is in the process of adding another pediatrician and nurse practitioner.
The team provides medical services at three different locations, including the Dee Norton Lowcountry Children's Center, Dorchester Children's Center, and MUSC Children's Hospital inpatient and outpatient services.
"Through this MUSC program, we were able to provide medical services to double the number of children in the last six months," says Libby Ralston, executive director of the Dee Norton Lowcountry Children's Center. "Dr. Abel's presence and MUSC has made a tremendous difference."
The program provides direct patient care with consultations at all locations, explains Dr. Abel. "We see children and adolescents with suspected physical abuse, suspected medical neglect, Munchausen's syndrome by proxy, and sexual abuse and assault."
The team sees the majority of patients at the two outpatient advocacy centers. "The MUSC commitment to this issue and to our program has had positive impact on the services we're able to provide to the children of our community," says Ralston.
"Having consistent quality medical services improves our overall ability to provide comprehensive services to these kids," she continues. Medical services are critical in treating the whole child, and allow the Children's Center to offer a more comprehensive response to the needs of these children.
"We also partner with MUSC's Department of Psychiatry to provide mental health care for our children. We have a strong medical and mental health partnership with MUSC."
MUSC has always provided medical services for abused children, but now there's more people power devoted to it, explains Dr. Abel.
Because child abuse was recently approved as a subspecialty of pediatrics, there's an increased emphasis on the field. "Within the next three years, every pediatric resident will have improved training in recognizing and treating child abuse," notes Dr. Abel.
The team is poised to continue its busy training program. Currently it provides training to MUSC physicians, physician assistants, nurses, social workers and medical and nursing students on how to recognize and report child abuse and neglect.
An upcoming symposium on April 12-13, hosted by the SC Professional Society on Abused Children, is targeted to medical professionals who work with children on issues regarding child abuse and neglect.
Among the team's other responsibilities:
Members serve on a Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect (SCAN) team that meets weekly at MUSC to discuss cases; coordinate info with official investigators (including the department of social services and law enforcement); and allow medical providers and county investigators to communicate face-to-face about immediate concerns.
"These SCAN team meetings are well-attended by other MUSC staff, always by radiology, the attending pediatrician and social workers, and sometimes by neurology, ophthalmology and other professionals depending on the specifics," she explains. "At these meetings, a clearer picture of what's going on emerges."
Dr. Abel stresses that members of the forensic pediatrics team are not investigators. "If there is suspected abuse or neglect, we make sure we understand it and that the report has gone to the proper authority. We provide consultation and medical expertise."
New reporting forms for the Children's Hospital allow the medical provider to phone or fax a report to investigating agency, she says.
Team members also testify in court when subpoenaed.
Pending final approval is a revised child abuse and neglect policy for MUSC. "Some of us served on a task force that worked to revise the old policy, which was 20 years old."
Future goals for the program include a stronger teaching program for residents and other health professionals at MUSC. "We'd like to have a fellowship in child abuse pediatrics here at MUSC," says Dr. Abel.
The physician says she'd also like to raise the program's functioning level to a Center of Excellence, and establish additional, devoted space and increased staff.
"There's a lot we're not seeing yet," says Dr. Abel of potential patients. "We're seeing the tip of the iceberg."
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