The effect of a community-based intimate-partner violence advocacy program in the emergency department on identification rate of intimate-partner violence.

A retrospective medical record review assessed identification rate of women acutely injured by intimate-partner violence before and after implementation of an Emergency Department (ED) intimate-partner violence advocacy program. After program implementation, the identification rate of intimate-partner violence increased over 40%. Of the 19 physicians in the ED during both time periods, 17 (89%) identified more cases after the program began (p < 0.003). Implementation of a community-based intimate-partner violence advocacy program in the ED resulted in an increased identification rate of intimate violence.