Domestic violence. A clinician's strategy.

As physicians we should continue to do those things we do well. But we need to focus our efforts in novel ways in order to address the pervasive and insidious problem of domestic violence. We need to become knowledgeable about the individual and public health consequences of domestic violence and the community resources available for patients. We need to be inquisitive in our practices, learning to identify women who are victims. We need to become advocates in our own practices, communicating to all patients our interest in domestic violence and our willingness to help victims. We need to become active in our communities in efforts to eliminate domestic violence and to improve services to victims.