The Ross Medical Education Center campus in Dayton had the pleasure of welcoming Artemis Center of Dayton to speak to the students on the topic of domestic violence. Artemis Center for Alternatives to Domestic Violence was established as Artemis House in 1985 by a small group of women who saw the need for options beyond just traditional shelters. The Artemis philosophy is to help victims of domestic violence in a holistic manner. They provide shelter, offer counseling for the family, help the victims meet basic needs, give referrals to community resources, and even help navigating any legal issues or questions that arise.
The Artemis Center representative that met with the campus community, Susan Gottschalk, brought a great amount of vital information for the upcoming healthcare professionals. The Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, and Medical Insurance Billing and Office Administration students all learned how they can help future patients that find themselves in this dire situation. Understanding what to ask is important, but even more important is learning how to ask with tact and respect for the patient. In the United States, one out of four women will be abused by a partner in her lifetime. Another staggering fact is that 50% of homeless women and children in the U.S. are fleeing domestic violence. This makes it a reality that Ross graduates will encounter situations where understanding domestic violence is a crucial factor. How to identify possible abuse, use respectful but probing questions, and be the one health professional that acts as a lifeline for a patient were all important points taken from the informative presentation.
After hosting Artemis, Ross instructors clearly expressed how vital the information was for the future professionals. They agreed that the information was very valuable and presented in a manner that will stay with the students. Babette Cooper, Clinical Medical Assistant Instructor stated, “I appreciate how the Artemis representative went in depth with what signs to look for in an abusive situation, how to address them tactfully, and all the literature she brought for them to take home and review. I noticed that the students seem to brew over the paperwork for days learning all they could in regard to abuse.” The campus is very thankful to Artemis Center for their wonderful presentation. Enrichment opportunities such as this make Ross students even more prepared to deliver quality care for future patients.
If you are interested in finding out more about Artemis Center, visit their website at http://www.artemiscenter.org/ or their Facebook page. If you are currently the victim of domestic violence, call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).