Forensic Program
Assisting Survivors of Sexual Assault & Violence in New Orleans
About our program
For ages 18 & up, the Forensic Program is located at University Medical Center New Orleans in the Emergency Department. To access service, please come to the 2nd Floor of the Emergency Department and request a forensic consult. UMC has been committed to providing trauma-informed care in a safe environment after an assault by specially trained forensic nurses.
For ages 17 and under, please contact the Children’s Hospital Audrey Hepburn CARE Center at 504.896.9237.
The CARE Center is located at 1101 Calhoun Street in Uptown New Orleans. For more information, visit Audrey Hepburn CARE Center.
About a forensic medical examination
A forensic medical examination involving a sexual assault is free and confidential. For patients ages 18 and older, upon arrival at University Medical Center, please ask for a forensic consult and you will be immediately triaged.
A forensic medical examination may include evidence collection up to 5 days after a sexual assault. If it is more than 5 days since the assault, a patient can still participate in the medication portion of the forensic medical examination. A multi-disciplinary team approach is involved in the examination of physical trauma after a sexual assault.
The forensic nurse will provide one-on-one patient care for forensic medical examinations which may include:
- Permission to participate in the examination
- Patient advocate
- Forensic evidence collection
- Forensic photography
- HIV/STD Testing & prevention medications
- Laboratory Testing
- Pregnancy Prevention Options
- Clothing & toiletries provided after a shower
- Referrals for follow-up services
- A safety plan
A forensic medical examination is based on the decision(s) of the patient. Each patient is in control of which parts of the examination he/she would like to participate in.
