The Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner: How They Fit in with the MDT

Child sexual assault cases are never easy to investigate let alone solve. One of the most important aspects of any child sexual assault case is the medical forensic examination. This examination can be completed in as little as 1- 4 hours post assault (acute) or up to years after the assault (chronic) and should be conducted by a trained medical provider, such as a child abuse pediatrician or a Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. In either case, a thorough medical examination is extremely beneficial to the patient and can be equally as beneficial to the multi-disciplinary team members who are investigating these cases. Although the team members all have separate and different roles in these cases, working together and understanding the role of the SANE-P and understanding the medical language medical providers use will ultimately benefit all those involved in the case. This presentation will discuss best practices and utilize the latest scientific research the SANE-P uses when conducting the medical forensic examination.