April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Courts often rely on the results of a patient’s screenings and examinations as their only means of evidence in sexual assault cases. Accurate and rigorous screening tools ensure that justice is properly served and that patients get the care they need after a traumatic experience. With proper training, screening tools, and resources, a licensed provider, from a physician to a registered nurse, can screen and examine a patient who has been sexually assaulted. Amy Rogers, BSN, RN, Director of AFMC’s Clinical Services team, is a specially trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner with over nine years of experience helping survivors to ensure they get the care they need through proper forensic examination and advocacy.

Family physicians fill the unique role of providing comprehensive health care for patients of all ages. Unlike specialists, family physicians are not limited to treating one particular organ or disease. As a result, they are often the patient’s first point of contact for health concerns. Patients and family physicians often establish lasting and trusted relationships, which increases health plan retention and decreases hospitalizations. However, like much of the U.S., Arkansas faces a primary care physician shortage.

Naloxone has saved the lives of countless individuals who were experiencing an overdose of opioids. What happens when Narcan doesn’t work on an individual who experiences an overdose? Naloxone is ineffective for individuals who are experiencing an overdose of xylazine, an animal tranquilizer detected in over 90% of drug samples in Philadelphia. Toxicology reports and other exams don’t check for xylazine. Some providers may not know about the drug either. Nonetheless, traces of xylazine are popping up nationwide, and providers must know what to do if they encounter someone who has taken drugs laced with xylazine.

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. Donating blood is safe, and it is essential for saving lives. Executive Director Lori Arnold-Ellis and Regional Communications Manager Joe Zydlo of the American Red Cross of Arkansas work to spread the word about the critical blood need in Arkansas and nationwide. They encourage health care professionals to start blood drives and educate the public about the benefits of donating blood.

April is Child Abuse Prevention month. The most common type of maltreatment is neglect. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), including all types of abuse and neglect, have increasingly become a high priority in the health care industry. Individuals with ACEs have been known to develop chronic illnesses later in life. Further research suggests that females with IBS suffer from comorbid mental disorders, including depression and anxiety. Could addressing ACEs help prevent patients from developing IBS, and other anxiety-induced disorders later in life?

AFMC would like to send our condolences and support to all those affected by the tornado on March 31. We understand that it can be hard to navigate a plethora of resources and support services throughout central Arkansas. To ease the search for resources and relief, we have created a list of local resources in the central Arkansas area you and your loved ones can use to seek shelter, supplies, and support.