Documentation of Intimate Partner Violence in Women Veterans’ Medical Records: An In-Depth Analysis

Abstract

National guidelines for identifying and addressing intimate partner violence (IPV) in the health care setting recommend that health care practitioners screen for IPV experiences and document disclosure and response in patients’ medical records. Women veterans are a growing population with particular risk of lifetime IPV victimization, yet we know little about how IPV presents and is addressed within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The purpose of this study was to examine documentation of women veterans’ disclosed experiences of IPV victimization in electronic medical records to identify how IPV presents in the VHA and to compare IPV screening, assessment, and response at a VHA medical center to nationally recognized best practices. We reviewed medical records for a five-year period (2005 to 2009) of 533 women veteran patients receiving care at an urban Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center and analyzed documentation of IPV disclosure and clinician response for patients with any documentation of IPV (N = 126). Women veterans presented with both acute and chronic IPV victimization experiences, as well as long-term effects of past IPV. Documentation of screening and response revealed opportunities for improvement to meet best practices.

Keywords:

• Intimate partner violence
• women veterans
• Veterans Health Administration

Acknowledgments

Dr. Dichter is a career development awardee, supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Health Service Research and Development Service. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. government.