Monday, 18 November 2019: 9:00 AM
Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world today (Department of Homeland Security, n.d.). As a result of the violence and abuse that trafficked persons frequently endure, many will seek healthcare while they are still being exploited (Baldwin, Eisenman, Sayles, Ryan, & Chuang, 2011; Chisolm-Straker, et al., 2016; Lederer & Wetzel, 2014). These visits allow healthcare professionals the opportunity to intervene and provide assistance (Barrows & Finger, 2008; Gibbons & Stoklosa, 2016; Grace, et al., 2014; Isaac, Solak, & Giardina, 2011; Schwarz, et al., 2016); but, this can only occur if they are adequately prepared to identify and respond to victims (Schwarz, et al., 2016). Current evidence indicates that healthcare professionals (HCPs) are ill-prepared to identify and care for trafficked persons (Armstrong & Greenbaum, in press; Powell et al., 2017; Miller, Duke, & Northam, 2016). To better understand how prepared hospitals and HCPs throughout the state of South Carolina were to identify and care for individuals experiencing human trafficking, a qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Stratified purposive sampling was utilized, and hospitals were invited to participate if they had an Emergency Department and trafficking had been reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, in 2016, in their geographic location (National Human Trafficking Hotline, 2017). Highly structured telephone interviews were conducted with Emergency Department (ED) directors/managers due to their knowledge of clinical practices and policies/procedures within the ED, as well as evidence that the majority of trafficking victims seek care in this setting. Of the twenty-nine eligible hospitals, eighteen comprised the final sample, with facilities from all four regions of the state represented. Findings indicated that statewide, hospitals were lacking human trafficking response protocols, health care professionals had not received training about human trafficking, and that although the majority of healthcare professionals (HCPs) believed trafficking occurred in their area, few could confirm that they had ever cared for a victim. When asked about who they would consult for assistance with a trafficking situation, answers varied widely; however, among those who had cared for a suspected or confirmed victim, consultation with a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) was a consistent finding. Perceived barriers, preventing hospitals from developing a human trafficking response protocol included lack of resources (time, man-power, money, and availability of referral services), lack of knowledge, and lack of awareness. South Carolina hospitals have many opportunities to improve their response to trafficked persons, including the development and implementation of human trafficking response policies/protocols; providing training for HCPs, particularly SANEs; and the establishment and fostering of relationships with local service providers. Only through the establishment of these measures can we ensure that every trafficked person is provided with optimal care and given the opportunity for assistance.