Local patients requiring a quieter, gentler emergency room experience have a new resource at Jefferson Abington Hospital. Shara Dae Howard, of KYW Newsradio, profiled the healthcare organization’s new Safe Center.

The initiative is part of Jefferson’s forensic nursing program whose participants are often the point of first contact for people reporting to the hospital after being victimized.

It is designed to create a trusting environment for those who have been subjected to abuse or forced into human trafficking, as well as seniors suffering cognitive issues.

Dr. Bruce Rubin, a Safe Center physician, said the need for this kind of environment for particularly fragile patients has been growing.

“The emergency department is organized chaos but chaos nonetheless. It’s not ideal for victims of sexual abuse or crimes,” he said.

Unique features of the space include a private, secure exam suite, private interview rooms, and a secured evidence collection area.

More on Jefferson Abington Hospital’s Safe Center is at KYW Newsradio.

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The Safe Center at Jefferson Abington Hospital is a community service effort that’s gaining traction nationwide,
as this report from KRTV, Great Falls, Mont. shows.