Assistant Professor Christopher St. Vil and colleagues publish article, "Hospital-based violence intervention programs: An essential relief system in the COVID-19 pandemic"

Kudos to Assistant Professor Christopher St. Vil and colleagues on the publication of their article, "Hospital-based violence intervention programs: An essential relief system in the COVID-19 pandemic" in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

Njus, M. M., St. Vil, C., Sheppard, M., & Hall, E. C. (2021). Hospital-based violence intervention programs: An essential relief system in the covid-19 pandemic. Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 233(5): S296.

Introduction

Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) address social risk factors for community violence to reduce trauma recidivism. COVID-19 stay-at-home orders were associated with increased violent injury, yet HVIP staff were unable to respond in person. This study evaluates HVIP service provision adaptations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Data were collected in a single urban location (10/1/2019 to 11/30/2020). Men older than 18 years presenting after gunshot wounds, stabbings, or assault were enrolled. Type of service provisions and category of contact (eg bedside or phone) were recorded per encounter. Histograms of service frequency per month were generated and analyzed.

Results

One hundred and three men with a mean age of 33.3 years (range 19 to 71 years) enrolled, 94% were Black, 67% presented with gunshot wounds. Treatment discussion and care coordination increased from 37.6% and 52.5% via telecommunications to 100% and 96.9%, respectively, during remote work, and sustained predominance after return to in-person staffing. Emergency financial assistance and advocacy services were 4.6 times and 2.1 times greater, respectively, in the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health services increased to a cumulative average of 1.9 times greater utilization than before April 2020. Rideshare provision decreased to 40% of rates before stay-at-home orders.

Conclusions

HVIPs involved found creative solutions to continue servicing patients including the adoption of telehealth, enhancing emergency relief, and increased counseling. Despite challenges of remote working, the HVIP model serves as an important social safety net resource that can capture an otherwise missed vulnerable population during emergent situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.