SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.,- April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, but Regional West Emergency Department staff members volunteer their time to bring awareness to the issue year round.

Volunteers from Regional West’s Emergency Department have joined forces with the local police departments, the Nebraska State Patrol, county sheriff departments, the state crime lab, and others to provide a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) for the panhandle.

There are currently eight SART members, three of which are employees at Regional West.

The SART team meets monthly to train and discuss proper ways of working with patients that are dealing with sexual assault. The team is trained to provide emotional support and contact law enforcement, if the victim chooses, or to contact CAPstone if the victim’s age warrants.

A SART member is always on call and available to assist victims 24/7. Whenever a sexual assault is investigated, the on-call SART member is notified and responds.

This is one of the many ways Regional West employees donate their time and skills to make our community better and safer.

Regional West Health Services, Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company for Regional West Medical Center and Regional West Physicians Clinic. These organizations, with over 1,800 employees, provide comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, 95 percent of whom are board certified or board eligible, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, the Regional West family of health care organizations offers care that spans more than 30 medical specialties.