Education for Child Abuse Medical Providers

About : 2007-2008 CHAMP Program Annual Summary

CHAMP works to improve the New York State medical response to child abuse. It does this by addressing two needs: the need for skilled medical evaluation of children suspected of being sexually abused and better identification, treatment and reporting of child abuse by primary pediatric and Emergency Department medical providers.

The CHAMP Centers of Excellence

These centers serve as expert resources for CHAMP-trained Providers of sexual abuse evaluations so that children have the medical care they need and which is outlined in the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) Standards. Identifying the child abuse medical experts in the state is the first step to providing the peer review, continuous quality improvement and consultation called for in the NCA standards.

  • Convened monthly CHAMP Network Advisory Board meetings to strategize statewide initiatives for program development.
  • Implemented the process to recognize medical professionals who meet CHAMP criteria for child abuse experts.
  • Designated the CHAMP Mentors and their facilities as CHAMP Centers of Excellence and listed them on the CHAMPprogram.com website.
  • Supported Child Abuse Pediatrics Fellows to help increase the number of experts in New York State.

Improved the capabilities and competence of the medical services component of the Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs).

Training to become a CHAMP Provider of child sexual abuse evaluations improves a medical professional’s ability to perform such an examination.

  • Defined the role of the CHAMP-trained Provider of sexual abuse evaluations. The CHAMP brochure distributed this information through print and online.
  • Posted a roster of CHAMP-trained Providers on the CHAMPprogram.com website.
  • Hosted the Northeast Regional National Children's Alliance Medical Training Academy from November 29 to December 1, 2007, and facilitated Continuing Medical Education (CME) awards.
  • Implemented a case review system for Mentors and Providers using a secure Internet-based database.
  • Case review is part of the new NCA guidelines for quality assurance. Educational review of child sexual abuse cases by an expert improves competence.
  • Developed the process for an online educational Quarterly Review of cases and hosted one-hour, CME credit granting sessions on February 7 and June 5, 2008.
  • Increased the number of CHAMP-trained Providers of child sexual abuse evaluations associated with New York State MDTs and Child Advocacy Centers (CACs).
  • Compiled four research-based and expert-reviewed practice recommendations for all New York State providers of child abuse evaluations: Photographic Documentation, Post-Assault Testing and Treatment, Skeletal Survey, and Triage. These practice recommendations are posted on the www.CHAMPprogram.com website.
  • Improved accessibility to the Evaluating Child Sexual Abuse pretest and post-test, the first step in Provider training, by making them available on the CHAMPprogram.com website and having the tests graded automatically. The tests are accessed through the course registration database.
  • Expanded training in child sexual abuse evaluation by offering the CHAMP Residency Training Program to pediatric and family medicine residents. Mentors affiliated with residency programs can use a child abuse rotation to present the material covered in a mentorship.

Improved the identification, treatment and reporting of child abuse by providing education to pediatric primary care providers, Emergency Department medical staff and professionals working in the area of child abuse.

  • Produced two courses available on the CHAMPprogram.com website: Child Abuse Reporting: The Basics and Adolescent Sexual Assault: Consent Issues. In addition, a database was created to track course participation, quizzes and evaluations.
  • Produced a statewide webcast, Medical-Legal Implications of STD Testing in Children: Nuts to NAATS, with CME awards offered to New York State medical professionals.
  • Created a website Resources Section to provide information and educational pieces designed for professionals who work in the area of child abuse.
  • Developed a learning activity for pediatric, family medicine and emergency medicine residents. A packet of materials is available on the CHAMPprogram.com website. It includes instructions for this Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), Child Abuse OSCE: Identifying, Managing and Reporting a Physical Abuse Case, and all the evaluation tools.
  • Tracked visitors to the CHAMP websites www.CHAMPprogram.com (October 07 to July 08 total visitors: 20,425) and www.ChildAbuseMD.com (July 2007-08 total visitors: 330,041).
  • Implemented a marketing plan to increase awareness and use of these websites.

2007-2008 CHAMP Program Annual Summary PDF (printer friendly version)

Every child deserves a skilled medical exam when child abuse is suspected