Victims of abuse often suffer severe physical injuries and will likely seek care at a hospital or clinic.The health and economic consequences of domestic violence are significant.
The national rate of nonfatal domestic violence against women declined 72% between 19 [11].
The rate of overall violent crime fell by nearly 60% in this same time period [11].
Domestic violence continues to be a prevalent problem in the United States today.
Because of the number of individuals affected, it is likely that most healthcare professionals will encounter patients in their practice who are victims.
Frequently, the injuries sustained require abused victims to seek care from healthcare professionals immediately after their victimization.
Subsequently, physicians and nurses are often the first healthcare providers that victims encounter and are in a critical position to identify domestic violence victims in a variety of clinical practice settings where victims receive care.
Following the economic downturn in late 2008, there was a significant increase in the use of the National Domestic Violence Hotline in 2009, with more than half of victims reporting a change in household financial situation in the last year [15].
In response to troubling domestic violence statistics, Governor Lawton Chiles appointed a Task Force on Domestic Violence on September 28, 1993, to investigate the problems associated with domestic violence in Florida and to compile recommendations as to how the problems should be approached and ultimately resolved.
The estimated total annual cost of IPV against women in the 1995 survey was more than .8 billion [9].
When updated to 2003 dollars, the amount was more than .3 billion annually.
In addition, when family violence cases are identified, there should be a plan of action that includes providing information on, and referral to, local community resources related to legal aid, sheltering, victim counseling, batterer counseling, advocacy groups, and child protection.