What does health care have to do with human trafficking? This week we talk with Olivia Mittel, MD, MS, who is Associate Dean for Medical Student Affairs and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. We discuss how research
shows that a majority of human trafficking victims come into contact with the
healthcare system, which provides an opportunity for healthcare professionals
to identify victims and provide support. Olivia describes efforts to teach
medical students and providers how to use trauma-informed communication with
patients and identify patients who are being trafficked. After listening to
this episode, Olivia’s “One Thing” call to action is for listeners to educate
themselves about the warning signs of trafficking. Review resources for
providers from Polaris, which
operates the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, become familiar with screening tools
to identify trafficking victims, and read the January 2023 Clinical Report
from Pediatrics on the healthcare needs of patients who have been trafficked.
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