Health care professionals at one of the state’s major health systems have new protocols if they suspect patients are victims of sex trafficking. Sioux Falls hosts this week’s Violent Crime and Human Trafficking Conference. Health care workers are gaining new tools to help them recognize trafficking.
US Attorney Brendan Johnson says human trafficking happens in South Dakota, and he proves it with federal convictions for traffickers and people who tried to buy sex in the state. But Johnson says law enforcement officers are often not the first contact victims have with people who can help; health care professionals often recognize the abuse.
Deb Fischer-Clemens with Avera says the health system is implementing a new protocol to identify victims of sex trafficking. She says nurses, doctors and other health staff can listen for red flags during assessments, and they can move to more standard questions to identify abuse.
"Can you walk away from the home where you’re living? Do you have resources? Do you have money today? Is your house locked and you can’t leave? There’s a whole list of questions," Fischer-Clemens says.
Fischer-Clemens says health professionals also look for more indirect issues within the assessment such as a patient not making eye contact, suffering from repeat infections, or having another adult answer all of the questions for the patient.
Dr. Tad Jacobs is the chief medical officer for Avera. He says physicians need to pay special attention to the possibility of trafficking.
"If we have a heightened awareness, then we’ll look for those clues. Sometimes if somebody comes in and has been a victim of violence, it’s pretty obvious in the clinic or in the hospital," Jacobs says. "But sometimes those clues are very subtle and they’re not very obvious."
Jacobs says the new protocol is imbedded in the electronic records system employees use.
Avera leaders are encouraging other providers across the state to include the new questions in their patient assessments.
The sex trafficking conference includes sessions tailored to health care workers, advocates, and law enforcement at the Washington Pavilion. The sessions continue Wednesday and Thursday. The conference is open to the public, and admission is free.