In Pennsylvania, many domestic and sexual assault centers have a medical advocate. Services of a medical advocate 

Pennsylvania  passed a Domestic Violence Universal Screening Act (House Bill 2268).  This bill calls for "Universal Screening." According to this Act, Universal Screening means all of the following: Identifying spousal or partner abuse among patients through routine  screening.

• Documenting patient injuries or illnesses attributed to spousal or partner abuse.
• Educating appropriate health care staff about the criteria for identifying and the procedures for handling patients whose injuries or illnesses are attributable to spousal or partner abuse.
• Advising patients exhibiting signs of spousal or partner abuse of crisis intervention services that are available either through a health care facility or through community-based crisis intervention and counseling services.
• Providing to patients who exhibit signs of spousal or partner abuse information on domestic violence and a referral list, to be updated periodically, of private and public community agencies that provide or arrange for the evaluation and care of persons experiencing spousal or partner abuse, including, but not limited to, hotlines, local battered women's shelters, legal services and information about temporary restraining orders. 

Responsibilities of Health Care

Become part of  Pennsylvania's Medical Advocacy Task Force Meetings. Frequent meetings are held in the both the Eastern and Western parts of Pennsylvania. Contact the National Resource Center for more details by calling 1-800-537-2238.