Human Trafficking and Resources Provision in the ED

Abstract

Human trafficking is both a human rights violation and a national health crisis. Despite nearly 165,000 identified cases in the United States since 2007, studies hypothesize that many more victims remain undetected despite up to 88% of trafficked persons interacting with the healthcare system during the time they are being trafficked. The lack of identification of these victims has often been attributed to healthcare providers\u27 lack of knowledge regarding human trafficking indicators and lack of confidence in how to address trafficking situations when they are encountered. Emergency department care providers of a 500-bed central Illinois hospital received education and resource binders containing screening tools, action steps, and contact information for local human trafficking resources. A statistically significant increase in the confidence of the participants about identification and knowledge of how to care for human trafficking victims was observed. Increased awareness encouraged the identification of two possible victims of human trafficking and the development of an organization policy about how to care for potential human trafficking victims. Further recommendations for continued work would include a computer-based learning module to ensure completion of education, education provision to affiliate hospitals, and customization of education for areas offering outpatient services. Swift and easy access to protocols for actions to be taken and accessible support resources for trafficked persons appear to be the most impactful intervention of this quality improvement project