The Center for Trauma and Critical Care (CTACC) has a dedicated injury prevention team led by Ms. Helaina Roisman. The injury prevention team is committed to identifying patterns of injury and directing prevention efforts accordingly. The team works collaboratively with governmental and non-governmental agencies in Washington, D.C. and in Virginia to address top mechanisms of injury. Additionally, the injury prevention team hosts the Trauma Survivors Network (TSN) program at GW Hospital, providing support to trauma survivors throughout the region.
The injury prevention team partners with GW Hospital and other organizations to offer the following injury prevention programs:
Violence Intervention Program
The injury prevention team partners with GW Hospital to participate in Project Change, a city-wide violence intervention program, and with the community organization, Far South East Family Strengthening Collaborative (FSFSC) to offer wrap-around / outreach services to all violently injured patients. Services include safe housing, employment services, mental health services, and more. Additionally, members from the injury prevention team participate in monthly meetings with city leaders regarding violence prevention in the region.
Committees that injury prevention team members participate in include:
- DC Violence Fatality Review Committee
- DC Violence Fatality Review Committee Recommendations Subcommittee
- Project Change
- Project Change Subcommittee
Vision Zero (Bicycle / Pedestrian / Motor vehicle related injuries)
The injury prevention team partners with local organizations and government agencies to carry out Vision Zero related activities throughout the year, including participating in the annual Vision Zero summit, advocating for safer streets and improvements to traffic safety laws, and participating in other initiatives to promote traffic safety in the region.
Committees that injury prevention team participate in include:
- Vision Zero Summit planning committee
- Impaired Driving Task force (Partnership with Office of Attorney General and District Department of Transportation)
- DUI Prevention Task force (Partnership with Office of the Attorney General)
- Washington Regional Alcohol Prevention (WRAP), Board Member
DC Families for Safe Streets (DC-FSS)
The injury prevention team partners with DC Families for Safe Streets to support trauma survivors and to advocate for safer streets in the region. A member from our team attends monthly DC-FSS meetings to plan events throughout the year and to coordinate support for local and national traffic-related legislation.
Committees that injury prevention team members participate in include:
- DC-FSS Steering Committee, founding member
Fall Prevention
The injury prevention team partners with the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences to provide fall risk reduction sessions with older adult patients who are at risk of falling. Risk reduction sessions include fall prevention education, problem solving, and additional resources.
Alcohol and drug related injury prevention
The injury prevention team is dedicated to ensuring that all injured patients are screened for alcohol and drug use. This process helps our team to identify patients who are at an elevated risk of serious injury due to alcohol and/or drug use. Patients who screen positive are provided with a brief intervention and referral to treatment.