Celebrating Injury and Violence Prevention!

Injuries and Violence both rank within the Top 5 causes of morbidity and mortality for all individuals according to the CDC. In fact, unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for people ages 1-44. These have PREVENTABLE causes. In fact, trauma care does not begin when a person comes to the ED, and it doesn't end when they are discharged. The Trauma Care Continuum begins with to preventing injuries before they happen and continues after discharge with the provision of case management and other services. Educating the public and communities, as well as providing adequate resources and support, helps to mitigate risk factors and allows change to occur.

As designated Trauma Centers, both Carilion New River Valley (CNRV) and Carilion Roanoke Memorial (CRMH) Hospitals must demonstrate an injury prevention program. Additionally, CRMH has a program that specifically targets victims of violence and helps them to recover and gain resilience. These programs are run by prevention specialists who utilize data to identify common mechanisms of injury and community needs. They then implement education programs and facilitate resources to maximize and maintain safety and a healthy lifestyle

Carilion Clinic employs 7 staff members across their two trauma centers dedicated to injury and violence prevention. This does not include the many staff members who volunteer to assist with the prevention activities provided by these programs and Carilion Clinic across our service area.

Injury Prevention and Outreach

The Injury Prevention and Trauma Outreach Programs provide education on various subjects for all ages including (but not limited to):

• Fall prevention
• Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Safety
• Concussions in youth sports
• Bike/skateboard safety
• Child passenger safety & car seat safety checkups
• Seasonal injuries such as those related to swimming & water sports
• Fire safety
• Poison prevention
• Choking, suffocation and strangulation safety
• Holiday safety

Violent Injury – Recovery & Support (VIRS) Program

The Violent Injury Recovery and Support Program or VIRS provides support to patients who have become victims of a violent injury. It is comprised of a program manager and two violence intervention specialists who have been operating at full capacity since January 2024. The goal of the program is to combine the efforts of our medical staff with trusted community partners to ensure that those affected receive the support, treatment, and resources they need to heal and to create positive changes in their lives.

Our Violence Intervention Specialists work closely with patients from day one and are with them every step of the way after, including in their homes and communities.  Our team will develop, together with patients, an individualized service plan to address goals including, but not limited to safety planning, navigation of the healthcare system, and coordinating with the patient’s medical care team. Other trauma-informed services may include:

• Job coaching
• Mentoring
• Education about recovery and healing
• Community Referrals
• Applications for medical insurance enrollment
• Accompaniment to aftercare appointments
• Connections to outpatient providers of mental health and other services
• Connections to educational resources

After enrollment, patients will continue to receive ongoing care as well as supportive services within their community for up to one year, ensuring they have the resources they need to keep them safe. VIRS is committed to strengthening our neighborhoods and providing patients as well as their support systems with the services needed to reduce re-injury rate and ultimately break the cycle of violence.