Medical Care

Everyone deserves to have safe access to medical treatment.

If you have been sexually assaulted or experienced violence, trained medical professionals can provide you with care. Your health is a priority for medical providers, and you do not have to have any evidence collected to seek help at a hospital or clinic.

This page will guide you through:

  • Helpful terms related to confidential medical care after experiencing violence

  • Stages of a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam

  • Frequently Asked Questions

  • Resources to Learn More

  • Pros + Cons of accessing confidential medical care

Here are some helpful terms to know:

  • S.A.N.E.

    S.A.N.E. stands for “Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner”. S.A.N.E.s are most often a Registered Nurse (RN) that has received special training so that they can provide comprehensive care to sexual assault survivors. A S.A.N.E. is able to provide you with medical care, conduct a forensic exam, and connect you with follow-up care & resources.

  • Advocate

    Advocates are confidential staff from your college or a community agency, and are called to the hospital to provide free emotional support and information during the SANE Exam. Advocates will help to answer your questions about reporting and resource options, and can work with you after the exam is done. Click here to learn more about advocacy services.

  • S.A.F.E.

    SAFE stands for “Sexual Assault Forensic Exam”. During this exam, a S.A.N.E. or medical provider will assist you with the medical care you need, and can also collect evidence from the assault (if you want). This evidence is put together in a kit that can then be given to law enforcement for testing now, or at a later date when you are ready.

“As medical providers, your care is our top priority. Our job is to believe you. Your safety and well-being is important to us, and we are not here to judge you, your reactions, or anything related to your experience. We want to answer your questions, provide treatment, and make sure you have the resources you need to heal. We are not investigators, and want to help you, regardless of if you want to have evidence collected or not. We do not care if you were drinking, or using other drugs. You deserve to have compassionate care.”

— Patti Kenyon, Registered Nurse, SANE, MDI

Stages of a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam

  • 1. Arrive at the Hospital or Clinic

    When you arrive at the hospital, clinic, or your school’s health center, a staff member will ask for the purpose of your visit, your insurance information, and get you checked in.

    If you are uncomfortable stating the reason for your visit, you can say “I would like to meet with a SANE nurse, please”.

  • 2. Triage & Meeting the Medical Provider

    If you are not in need of immediate medical care, you may be asked to wait in a private exam room, or a waiting room/lobby until the medical provider can meet with you.

    If urgent medical care is needed, you will meet the medical staff that will help care for you right away. Your medical providers will address any health concerns prior to you meeting with a SANE nurse, or you receiving any forensic care (including evidence collection).

  • 3. Meet SANE & Advocate

    Oregon law requires that medical staff call an advocate to support you if you have experienced sexual violence, so your medical team will call an advocate from a local agency to the hospital or clinic on your behalf. When the advocate arrives, they can go over their role with you, and you get to decide if you want to work with them. Advocacy services are free and confidential.

    You will also get to meet the SANE, and they will discuss their role with you, answering any questions you have about the process (and the advocate can stay with you, if you choose).

  • 4. SANE Collects History of Your Experience (Approximately 1-2 hours)

    Next, your SANE will speak with you about your health, and gather information about your experience with violence. They will ask you for detailed information about the assault to better understand what care you may need. You get to choose what questions you answer, and how much information you provide.

    Your SANE will also walk you through all of your options and resources at this time. They can (and want to) answer any questions that you may have.

  • 5. Physical Exam with SANE (approximately 1-2 hours)

    It is your choice whether or not to have a physical exam, and if evidence is collected.

    After the SANE collects information about your experience, they can perform a head-to-toe exam of your body, and collecting evidence (if you choose).

    If you choose to have evidence collected, the SANE will ask you to change out of your current clothing and provide you a hospital gown. They can collect DNA evidence, take photos of any injuries, and perform exams. You can choose to have some, all, or no evidence collected.

  • 6. Follow-Up with Medical Provider

    After the SANE completes the physical exam, they will confer with a medical provider to address any health concerns you may have, and create a care plan for you.

    The medical provider will meet with you again to provide you with additional medical care as necessary, including prescribing emergency contraceptives, providing you with mediations to prevent disease, infection, or pregnancy, STI/STD testing, etc.

  • 7. Aftercare

    After your SANE and the medical provider have addressed your current medical needs, your SANE and the advocate will work with you to create a plan for after you leave the hospital/clinic.

    This could include helping you to create a safety plan, developing a plan for future prescription medications (including medicine to prevent pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections), finding rides to and from clinics or pharmacies, or a plan for follow-up care with your local medical provider.

FAQs About Confidential Medical Care

 

Do I have to report to the police to have an exam done?

 

No. You do NOT need to report the assault to police to have an exam. You can have an exam with or without collecting evidence. If you want to collect evidence, but are not ready to report to the police, The SANE will guide you through your options for submitting an anonymous evidence kit to law enforcement. Law enforcement in Oregon must hold anonymous kits for 60 years.

 

I did not get an exam right away, but think I am ready now. Can I still go?

 

Yes. Medical providers can still conduct a medical-forensic/SAFE exam up to 15 days after an assault (this may vary by provider or your circumstances).

You can receive medical attention and care at any time when you are ready, even if evidence cannot be collected.

 

I think I want to go to the hospital, what should I do before I go?

 

The hospital or clinic can give you information about what to expect. If you want to let the hospital know you are coming, you can call ahead of time and let the hospital know when you anticipate arriving. Staff can give you information about where to enter, park, and any necessary COVID-19 safety protocols. They can also let you know about whether or not a support person can come into the exam room with you.

Bring your photo I.D., insurance information, and any important contact numbers you may need in case your phone does not work (cell service does not always work well in the hospital).

If you think you may want to have evidence collected, try to not to pee, shower, change clothes, brush your teeth, or eat/drink anything if possible. If you have showered, you can still have evidence collected, if you choose.

 

I am really nervous. Is that normal?

 

Yes. After experiencing a sexual assault, you may feel a wide range of emotions. Whatever you are feeling is okay: there is no “right” or correct way to feel. Everyone responds differently.

You also have the right to stop the exam at any point in time.

 

What should I bring with me to the hospital?

 

  • a trusted friend or family member for support (check with your hospital to see if you can have a support person with you if there are current Covid-19 restrictions),

  • your photo ID and insurance cards (if you have them, see pro/cons list for more information about this below),

  • a change of clothes (if you intend on having evidence collected from clothing, the nurse will need to keep the clothing in your SAFE kit and will not return it to you), and

  • a phone charger

Resources to Learn More

 

SANEs in Oregon have created resources to help you learn more about exams, and your options for care. Click any of the buttons below to learn more about medical care in Oregon.

What are the Pros & Cons of Seeking Medical Care?

You get to choose what is best for your body and health. While every person’s situation is unique, here are some general pros and cons of seeking medical care:

Pros

  • Your health concerns and any injuries can be addressed by medical staff.

  • You can ask questions about your health, and work with the SANE to understand if you need follow up care.

  • Your SANE will connect you with an Advocate for emotional support and resources. You can choose if you want to work with the Advocate or not.

  • SANE and/or Advocate can help you with safety planning.

  • Your SANE can help you with medications to prevent pregnancy (emergency contraceptives) and Sexually Transmitted Infections/Diseases (STIs, STDs).

  • Receive treatment for any current STIs/STDs.

  • Tests can be done to identify if any drugs are present in your system/body.

  • If you choose to have evidence collected, it may help if you choose to file a police report.

  • Evidence collected might help in identifying perpetrator/person who harmed you.

  • Evidence can be collected, and you do not have to

  • The Sexual Assault Victims’ Emergency Medical Response (SAVE) Fund makes medical exams available to every victim of sexual assault in Oregon who has a sexual assault exam within seven days of the assault. If you are a victim of sexual assault the SAVE Fund will pay for:

    • The cost of a sexual assault medical exam

    • Medications to prevent sexually transmitted diseases

    • Up to five days of HIV medication

    • Emergency contraception

    • Pregnancy test

    • Physician fee

    • Up to 5 counseling sessions

Cons

  • If other people have access to your insurance (parents, caregivers, the person who harmed you, etc.), they may be able to see that you accessed medical services, and what services were provided to you on your insurance’s “Explanation of Benefits”. You can talk to the SANE or Advocate if you are concerned about this.

  • The exam does not necessarily prove that a sexual assault occurred.

  • The exam can feel invasive, and can be physically uncomfortable.

  • Voluntary use of drugs or alcohol may show up in testing.

  • There may be some medical costs (aside from those covered by SAVE fund).

  • If you choose to have evidence collected from your clothing or other items you were wearing during the assault, you will not get these items back. They will be given to the state crime lab for processing, or held in your kit until you are ready to have law enforcement process the kit.