HSHS St. Vincent Hospital’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program marks 20 years of dedicated service to victims of sexual assault.
November 13, 2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. – This year, HSHS St. Vincent Hospital’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program marks 20 years of dedicated service to victims of sexual assault in northeast Wisconsin.
The HSHS St. Vincent Hospital SANE team consists of 17 specially trained sexual assault nurse examiners and registered nurses who care for sexual assault victims, collecting medical evidence and performing necessary examinations, and providing them options and resources for treatment.
“Over the last two decades, our team has provided exams, treatment options, and medical follow-up care to 4,143 women, men and children,” said Dana Stueber, HSHS St. Vincent Hospital SANE Clinical Coordinator. “We are the only program of this kind in northeast Wisconsin. We see patients from Brown, Oconto, Marinette, Shawano, Kewaunee and Door Counties, and our team is incredibly proud to provide this important service to victims of sexual assault in our community.”
Working with local agencies including human services, law enforcement, the Sexual Assault Center and the district attorney’s office, the HSHS St. Vincent Hospital’s SANE team connects patients with multiple local advocacy groups available to sexual assault victims and their families. In many cases, these nurses are also called to testify in court as expert witnesses.
“When we provide exams to patients, nearly 20 exams every single month, we can collect DNA evidence to submit to the Wisconsin Crime Lab, should the patient choose,” said Dana. “If the patient wants assistance reporting an assault to law enforcement, we’ll help with that too. Our team has testified in court over 130 times since 2020 alone, presenting DNA results as needed. Our mission is to advocate for the patient, respecting their decisions as they navigate through this difficult and challenging process.”
The stress a person feels after a sexual assault may be short-term, long-term or both. Whatever the case may be for a particular patient, the SANE team is expertly trained to help and support every patient who passes through their doors. With a total of 179 years of combined experience, the 17 members of the SANE program at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital ensure every patient receives the compassionate, confidential care and assistance they deserve.
Safe place: As soon as possible, find a safe place and go there.
Get help: Find a person who can help you. If you need support and assistance, call the Sexual Assault Center at 920-436-8899.
Consider having a medical examination: A medical exam is important for your health and the sexual assault nurse examiners at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital are specially trained to collect medical and legal evidence.
To learn more about the HSHS St. Vincent Hospital SANE program, please visit: https://www.hshs.org/st-vincent/services/emergency-care/sexual-assault-nurse-examiner-(sane)
HSHS St. Vincent Hospital is part of Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), a Catholic health care ministry founded in 1875. Dedicated to our Mission to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through high-quality Franciscan health care, HSHS clinicians provide exceptional care centered on the whole person. Based in Springfield, Illinois, HSHS employs more than 11,000 colleagues who provide care in 13 acute-care, children’s and critical-access hospitals and home health and hospice programs in Central and Southern Illinois and Eastern Wisconsin. HSHS is aligned with more than 1,000 primary and specialty physicians and advanced practitioners through its owned affiliates HSHS Medical Group and Prairie Cardiovascular and its partnership with Prevea Health. For more information about HSHS, visit hshs.org.
The HSHS St. Vincent Hospital SANE team consists of 17 specially trained sexual assault nurse examiners and registered nurses who care for sexual assault victims, collecting medical evidence and performing necessary examinations, and providing them options and resources for treatment.
“Over the last two decades, our team has provided exams, treatment options, and medical follow-up care to 4,143 women, men and children,” said Dana Stueber, HSHS St. Vincent Hospital SANE Clinical Coordinator. “We are the only program of this kind in northeast Wisconsin. We see patients from Brown, Oconto, Marinette, Shawano, Kewaunee and Door Counties, and our team is incredibly proud to provide this important service to victims of sexual assault in our community.”
Working with local agencies including human services, law enforcement, the Sexual Assault Center and the district attorney’s office, the HSHS St. Vincent Hospital’s SANE team connects patients with multiple local advocacy groups available to sexual assault victims and their families. In many cases, these nurses are also called to testify in court as expert witnesses.
“When we provide exams to patients, nearly 20 exams every single month, we can collect DNA evidence to submit to the Wisconsin Crime Lab, should the patient choose,” said Dana. “If the patient wants assistance reporting an assault to law enforcement, we’ll help with that too. Our team has testified in court over 130 times since 2020 alone, presenting DNA results as needed. Our mission is to advocate for the patient, respecting their decisions as they navigate through this difficult and challenging process.”
The stress a person feels after a sexual assault may be short-term, long-term or both. Whatever the case may be for a particular patient, the SANE team is expertly trained to help and support every patient who passes through their doors. With a total of 179 years of combined experience, the 17 members of the SANE program at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital ensure every patient receives the compassionate, confidential care and assistance they deserve.
What to do if you are sexually assaulted
Survive: Fight back only if you think you have a good chance to escape. Don't fight if it could bring you further harm. Follow your instincts and remember: The important thing is to survive.Safe place: As soon as possible, find a safe place and go there.
Get help: Find a person who can help you. If you need support and assistance, call the Sexual Assault Center at 920-436-8899.
Consider having a medical examination: A medical exam is important for your health and the sexual assault nurse examiners at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital are specially trained to collect medical and legal evidence.
To learn more about the HSHS St. Vincent Hospital SANE program, please visit: https://www.hshs.org/st-vincent/services/emergency-care/sexual-assault-nurse-examiner-(sane)
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About HSHS St. Vincent HospitalHSHS St. Vincent Hospital is part of Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), a Catholic health care ministry founded in 1875. Dedicated to our Mission to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through high-quality Franciscan health care, HSHS clinicians provide exceptional care centered on the whole person. Based in Springfield, Illinois, HSHS employs more than 11,000 colleagues who provide care in 13 acute-care, children’s and critical-access hospitals and home health and hospice programs in Central and Southern Illinois and Eastern Wisconsin. HSHS is aligned with more than 1,000 primary and specialty physicians and advanced practitioners through its owned affiliates HSHS Medical Group and Prairie Cardiovascular and its partnership with Prevea Health. For more information about HSHS, visit hshs.org.
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Angela Deja
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