Gwendolyn Poles D.O.

Honored by:
Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Physicians are in a unique position to address domestic violence both through screening patients and involvement at the administrative/policy-making level. We can influence society´s response to domestic violence, offer assistance to victims and prevent intimate relationships from becoming abusive. It has been an honor to be involved in Pennsylvania´s response to domestic violence.

The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare´s Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP) is in the third year of collaboration with PCADV to raise awareness of domestic violence among the medical assistance patient population and primary care and specialty clinicians.

As the former OMAP Medical Director, Dr. Pole´s efforts resulted in quarterly consumer and clinician newsletter articles and distribution of patient safety cards to new patients, pregnant women and physicians. OMAP and the insurance plans also post information about domestic violence and resource links on their Web sites and Dr. Poles arranged for PCADV to provide training for their case management staff. Upcoming activities include a media campaign, agreement by the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association to provide domestic violence information on pharmacy materials and outreach to Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Head Start programs.