Medical center sets up sexual assault examination room

Local law enforcement, medical professionals, and domestic violence advocates recently gathered together at Carson Valley Medical Center to set up the area's only sexual assault examination room. This room is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that will aid in the exam of the victim and the prosecution of the assailant.

The sexual assault response team is made up of various local organizations dedicated to providing medical treatment, advocacy and prosecution for sexual assault victims. The team has been working to provide the community with a sexual assault exam room for five years. With the aid of Sen. Harry Reid and the work of Douglas County Sheriffs Lt. Mike Biaggini, the team obtained a grant through the Bureau of Justice Administration. The grant, which amounted to almost $20,000, allowed the team to obtain the advanced equipment necessary to examine sexual assault victims at Carson Valley Medical Center instead of transporting them to the nearest SART exam room in Sparks.

"The ability to be examined locally minimizes the victimization of an already traumatic situation," said Orita Keebaugh, a victim's advocate with the Family Support Council of Douglas County.

According to Keebaugh, this software would cut a sexual assault examination from a four-hour process to just two hours.

For more information on SART or how you can help, contact Orita Keebaugh of the Family Support Council at 782-8692.

Members of the Sexual Assault Response Team include: Douglas County Family Support Council, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Douglas County District Attorney's Office, Douglas County Social Services, Douglas County Mental Health, Douglas County Public Nurse, Carson Valley Medical Center, Sierra Family Health Clinic and Nevada Division of Child and Family Services