Screening for Intimate Partner Violence

​​​​​​Healthcare providers should adhere to organizational protocols regarding when and where to screen patients for intimate partner violence (IPV). Protocols should take into account practical considerations that may hinder a provider's ability to effectively adhere to them, allow for the provider to apply their clinical judgment based on the facts of individual cases, and provide guidance where possible in effective strategies.

Having a policy that requires screening for IPV is not enough. Organizations must ensure that screening actually happens in a manner consistent with the protocol. Chart reviews and research on screening indicate that IPV screening is frequently omitted, possibly owing to lack...