Delaware hospitals use protocol to combat human trafficking

Delaware hospitals have adopted a common protocol for identifying people who are being trafficked. In announcing the move, the Delaware Healthcare Association’s (DHA) Human Trafficking Medical Committee said it believes Delaware is the first state to engage all of its hospitals in tackling human trafficking. “Studies have shown that 88% of human trafficking victims were seen by a health care provider while they are being trafficked,” said DHA President and CEO Wayne A. Smith, giving hospitals “a unique and important opportunity to identify and help victims.” Delaware’s action is part of a larger movement among hospitals to combat workplace and community violence through education, partnerships and data collection. The American Hospital Association created the Hospitals Against Violence initiative in 2016 to support these efforts. (DHA news release, 5/8/19)