Intervention Basics

Do

• Assure patients of confidentiality to the extent allowed under the state's mandatory reporting laws.
• Listen to the patient.
• Respond to the patient's feelings.
• Acknowledge that disclosure is scary for the patient.
• Tell the patient that you are glad she or he told you.
• Provide the patient with options and resources.
• Document the information in the patient's chart.
• File mandatory reports.
• Schedule a followup visit.

Don't

• Joke about the violence.
• Minimize the issue or try to change the subject.
• Discuss the abuse in front of the suspected perpetrator.
• Violate confidentiality, unless it falls under the state's mandatory reporting laws.
• Give advice or dictate an appropriate response.
• Shame or blame the patient.
• Grill the patient for excessive details of the abuse.
• Lie about the legal and ethical responsibilities to report suspected abuse.