Description/Abstract
Human trafficking in the United States and worldwide is a growing problem. Millions of men, women and children are victims of human trafficking each year. Victims of human trafficking are often vulnerable due to a number of factors, to include emotional problems, social instability, and economic difficulties. Fear of traffickers and the trauma the victims are subjected to make them reluctant to seek help, even in settings oriented to care, such as hospitals and medical practices.1 Studies have found up to 88% of victims of human trafficking are seen in an emergency department during their captivity. Emergency department providers can play an essential role in identification and response to a victim. Improving the knowledge of emergency department providers on recognition and reporting victims of human trafficking is one of the most important ways to intercede with this vulnerable population.2 Objective: The goal of this project was to determine if a human trafficking quality improvement program named Trafficking, Education, Screening and Action (TESA) could create a system change that will improve the identification of human trafficking victims through education, screening tools, and algorithm implementation.
