Methodist Women's Hospital

Sexual assault can happen to anyone — adolescent or adult. Methodist Hospital will assist you no matter your situation.The first thing to do is seek treatment immediately, or at least within 72 hours, for:

• Identification and care of injuries
• Evidence collection
• Preventive treatment for some sexually transmitted diseases
• Emergency pregnancy prevention
• Emotional support
• Counseling and crisis care referral
• Health care follow-up recommendations and referral

IMPORTANT: In order to keep the evidence viable, do not change clothes, bathe, shower, use the restroom or cleanse in any way prior to your examination. Also, if possible, do not eat, drink or smoke.

The Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)
All of the individuals you will meet here are specially trained to provide timely, compassionate, expert care — on call, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The team includes:

• The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) is a person you can count on to listen to you, evaluate and tend to your health care needs, collect evidence, document findings and furnish referrals to the people, agencies and services that can help once you leave the hospital.
• A Physician is another member of your team available to treat injuries and address any medical problems, large or small.
• A Victim Advocate from the YWCA will support you before, during and after the exam.  The advocate will also be able to refer you to ongoing individual and group counseling programs sponsored by the YWCA.
• A Law Enforcement officer will maintain your safety, take custody of evidence and investigate the report.
• Additional Resources are available as needed — laboratory, infection control staff, pastoral care, patient education and more.

Follow-up care after a sexual assault is very important. The Renaissance Health Clinic offers low-cost health care from certified nurse practitioners based on a sliding-fee scale. Learn More.

The Follow-Up Care Guidelines may be helpful to your health care provider as he or she discusses your follow-up treatment plan. We recommended that you print this form and take it with you to your first appointment.

 

Methodist Women's Hospital offers adult and teen victims of sexual assault a place to go where they can receive immediate, comprehensive and compassionate care and evidence collection from health care professionals specifically trained and educated to meet their special needs.

Heidi Wilke was attacked and raped following a business meeting in downtown Omaha. Acutely aware of the special needs of sexual assault survivors, Heidi and her husband Jeff have been instrumental in the development of the first SANE/SART Program in the Omaha area. The Wilkes have worked closely with the Methodist Hospital Foundation to spearhead fund-raising efforts to endow the program permanently.