Illinois State Medical Society

January 10, 2024

Human Trafficking Webinars Aim to Equip Doctors in Supporting Victims

CME is available for both webinars

In support of National Human Trafficking Awareness Day on January 11 and National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, ISMS is offering a two-part webinar series on this important topic.

Physicians and other healthcare professionals are in a unique position to identify victims of human trafficking. Those being trafficked may not be able to see many other people aside from their trafficker – except when they come in for a medical visit.

ISMS’ on-demand courses are designed to challenge stereotypes, clarify the various factors contributing to trafficking, and offer practical approaches for assisting survivors of both sex and labor trafficking.

According to a 2017 survey of 127 human trafficking survivors:

·     69% reported having accessed healthcare services at some point during their exploitation

·     Of those, 85% sought treatment for injuries or illnesses related to their trafficking

·     Yet only 6% of healthcare professionals reported having treated someone who was a victim of trafficking

These programs are available for free to all healthcare professionals and the public:

Human Trafficking: Identification and Response in a Healthcare Setting

Presented by Anna Pastor, Coordinator of the Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force

Human Trafficking: Practical Approaches and Resources in a Healthcare Setting

Presented by Traci Kurtzer, M.D., the Medical Director for Trauma Informed Care and Education for the Department of Obstetrics at Northwestern Medicine

Questions? Please contact the ISMS Health Policy Research and Advocacy team by email.

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IDPH’s Webinar Series on Hot Issues Continues! 

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is hosting a series of interactive info-sessions to raise timely awareness about emerging and high-impact public health issues that directly involve clinical care or health system considerations.

The FAST Public Health Allied Clinician Talks (PHACT) sessions will be presented by public health medical advisors and subject matter experts from IDPH and will also include a forum for addressing questions around clinician roles, such as triage, testing, reporting and prevention.

All healthcare professionals are invited to participate at no cost!

The four FAST PHACT webinars will be held on the third Thursday of the month from noon to 1 p.m. (CT) and will focus on these issues:

·     January 16: Health, Habits & Habitats: The Interrelated Roles of Frontline Clinicians – Public Health in Occupational/Environmental Exposures

·     February 20: OneHealth: What Is it and What does it Mean for Every Clinician?

·     March 20: Wisdom in Life, Wisdom in Health: Clinicians Guide to Elder Care Resources and End-of-Life Considerations

·     April 17: Prenatal Care Considerations for PCPs

Register today for selected webinars!

Questions? Please contact the ISMS Health Policy Research and Advocacy team by email.

KCMS 2024 Annual Dinner Meeting

Wednesday, November 13 at Oscar Swan Country Inn