Bon Secours Celebrates Opening of New Violence Response Team Suite at Southside Medical Center

Petersburg, Va. (September 24, 2024) – Bon Secours Southside Medical Center in Petersburg, Virginia is pleased to announce the blessing and dedication of its new Violence Response Team suite. The Bon Secours Violence Response Team (VRT) is made up of specially trained forensic nurses and victim services advocates that are available at all Bon Secours Richmond hospitals and freestanding emergency departments. In addition, the team consists of community health workers whose focus is supporting those impacted by community violence.

The VRT program is the only forensic nursing program in Virginia to be staffed 24/7, serving patients of all ages from 41 cities, counties, and towns from across the state. The team, composed of 30 dedicated professionals, collaborates with law enforcement, attorneys, child advocacy centers, shelters, social services, and other organizations to identify and assist victims of violence.

"The Violence Response Team cares for patients who have been impacted by violence. For some, this may be the worst day of their lives, and we hope in some way we can make a difference," said Dr. Bonnie Price, Administrative Director of Community Health Advocacy, Bon Secours Richmond. "Having the opportunity to serve more than 40 different cities, counties, and towns across Virginia, and being one of the few programs that has a forensic nurse always on duty to be there when the most vulnerable of patients need us, is part of our mission and ministry. It is our calling."

Petersburg has one of the nation's highest rates of violent incidents, underscoring the critical need for specialized care for victims of violence. The new, 2,200 square-foot Violence Response Team suite at Bon Secours Southside Medical Center was made possible by philanthropic support through the generosity of local donors and the Bon Secours Richmond Healthcare Foundation. This is the second suite Bon Secours has opened, with the first suite located at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital in Richmond.

The new suite is equipped to enhance this support with two exam rooms, two waiting rooms, a consultation room, and a staff resiliency room. These features are designed to ensure comprehensive and compassionate care for patients and a supportive environment for the dedicated staff.

For more than 30 years, the Violence Response Team, originally known as the Forensic Nursing Program, has been a pivotal resource for victims of abuse. In 2020, the program expanded to include victim services advocates and was renamed to reflect the broader scope of services provided. The Violence Response Team offers essential community outreach through participation in multiple sexual assault and child abuse response teams, as well as community lectures and presentations on various forms of violence, including sexual assault, human trafficking, strangulation, child abuse, elder abuse, and interpersonal violence.

In 2023, the Bon Secours Violence Response Team served 3,410 patients, including 1,900 cases and 1,510 consults. Among these, 582 were pediatric cases. The team handled 1,229 physical assaults, of which 24% involved pediatric patients, and 670 sexual assaults, with 43% being pediatric. They conducted 322 strangulation exams and provided 168 expert witness testimonies. Additionally, the team dedicated 377 hours to community education.

Every three years, Bon Secours conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) during which local residents and patients share insight into the key areas of health need for the community. During our most recent CHNA, community violence was indicated to be among the top community priorities. Having already added community health workers whose focus is supporting those impacted by community violence, this takes things a step further. Establishing this dedicated suite where patients experiencing violence can be seen and treated by the Violence Response Team in place at Bon Secours Southside Medical Center, means patients from the Tri-Cities community are able to be cared for with the appropriate level of expertise and compassion close to home rather than facing a transfer during a vulnerable and frightening time. 

The establishment of the Violence Response Team Suite is a testament to Bon Secours' unwavering commitment to the well-being and dignity of every individual. By providing critical, compassionate care to victims of violence, the Violence Response Team exemplifies the mission of Bon Secours ensuring that every patient receives the support and care they deserve during their most challenging times.

The Bon Secours Violence Response Team can be reached 24/7 through our Bon Secours hospitals or freestanding emergency departments, or by calling 804-281-8184 or 804-281-8574 during normal business hours.

Bon Secours Southside Medical Center is a Level III Trauma Center.

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About Bon Secours - Richmond

Bon Secours - Richmond is part of Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH), one of the 20 largest health systems in the United States and the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the country. The ministry’s quality, compassionate care is provided by more than 60,000 associates serving communities in Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia, as well as throughout Ireland. Bon Secours – Richmond provides compassionate medical care through a network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, ambulatory care sites and continuing care facilities. As one of Richmond’s largest employers, the not-for-profit health system employs more than 10,000 people, including more than 470 providers as part of the Bon Secours Medical Group. Bon Secours – Richmond includes St. Mary’s Hospital, Memorial Regional Medical Center, Richmond Community Hospital, St. Francis Medical Center, Rappahannock General Hospital, Southside Medical Center, Southern Virginia Medical Center, Westchester Emergency Center, Chester Emergency Center, Short Pump Emergency Center and Southside Emergency Care Center. Consistent with its commitment to serve each patient with dignity, BSMH provided more than $600 million dollars in community investments across five states in 2023, ensuring that cost is not a barrier to health care for our patients in need. In addition to charity care, BSMH invests in programs that address chronic illness, affordable housing, access to healthy food, education and wellness programs, transportation, workforce development and other social determinants of health that directly affect the communities we serve. The mission of Bon Secours is to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of our communities and bring good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying and underserved. For more information visit BonSecours.com.