Hospital based violence intervention is being examined as one way to reduce firearm related deaths and injuries. Members of Lexington’s Planning and Public Safety Committee got a briefing last week.
Laura Hatfield is director of One Lexington. It’s an initiative aimed at addressing violent crime with resources both inside and outside of government with public and private partners. Hatfield told panel members hospital based violence intervention is about intervening at a critical point. “In the immediate aftermath of a violent assault, victims of this assault are particularly receptive to making a life change. And at this moment they really are at a crossroads,” said Hatfield.
Hatfield said reactions can vary from continuing down the same path, retaliation, or pivoting and as she put it, “getting out of the game.” Hatfield added the effort can involve using street outreach workers to facilitate such interactions.
Dr. Andrew Bernard is the trauma medical director at the University of Kentucky. Bernard said the American College of Surgeons has taken a hard look at firearm violence. “Firearm violence is hard to talk about in the United State because people feel really strongly about firearms in two polar opposite directions and everything in between. What the College has done is try to figure out where there is a common narrative,” explained Bernard.
Dr. Bernard noted that could be found in an understanding that firearms are a liberty protected by the constitution but violence is a major cause of death and suffering. He added that can include trying to address the underlying causes of violence.
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