Hospital Based Violence Intervention Programs: The Key to Reducing Community Violence

ABSTRACT Purpose: The purpose of this article is to create a CME article to bring awareness of Hospital Based Violence Intervention Programs (HVIPs). Method: A PubMed literature search was conducted with search terms Hospital Based Intervention Programs, community violence, gun violence Results: Data to support that community violence is a significant problem and HVIPs have shown some evidence of reduction of repeat episodes of violence in a victim. Conclusion: Community violence has reached epidemic level numbers of injuries and casualties over the recent years. The 15 to 34 year olds are the age group affected most, with homicide being the third leading cause of death in these individuals. Traditionally, the approach to community violence has been reactionary, but the development of HVIPs has aimed at preventing and ceasing ongoing violent acts. Studies have seen a 50 percent reduction in reinjury in as little as four years. If HVIPs become a standard protocol in the hospital setting, progress in reducing injury and death at the hands of violence could be demonstrated