Back to Top Sexual Assault and Partner Abuse Care Program - The Ottawa Hospital Website scanner for suspicious and malicious URLs
 

toh

If you are looking to refer a client to our program, please access our referral form. Upon completion of the form please fax to our confidential fax machine:  613-761-4985.

If you have already discharged the patient, please provide safe contact information so that we can reach out to them and make an apt

The regional Sexual Assault and Partner Abuse Care Program (SAPACP) of The Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus was established in 1994 and is a partner of the Ontario Provincial Network of SA/DV treatment centres.

The SAPACP is a team of specialized health professionals who are available on site, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  As a team we provide private and confidential trauma sensitive medical care to any person 16 years of age and older who has experienced sexual or intimate partner violence in our greater Ottawa region.

In addition to our acute 24/7 service we provide a comprehensive outpatient clinic.  Outpatient services are accessible by self-referral, referral by health professional and/or  our community partners.  Please fax referral to 613- 761-4985 or call 613-798-5555 x 13770 to book an appointment.

Together with our community partners, we work to meet the medical, emotional, social, forensic and legal needs of individuals who have suffered the consequences of sexual and/or intimate partner violence.

All services provided are confidential. We do not disclose your visit to the police unless you request this support

What is sexual assault or sexual abuse?

Sexual assault is any form of unwanted sexual activity forced upon a person without that person’s consent. It can include anything from unwanted sexual touching to forced intercourse. Usually the person who commits the assault is someone known to the victim. While most sexual assaults are perpetrated again women, men are also sexually assaulted.

What is Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)?

Also known as domestic violence (DV) intimate partner violence is a crime in Canada. Primarily committed by men against women, intimate partner violence can be committed by women again men and occur in same sex relationships. IPV is found is all income classes, religions, races, and cultures. Intimate partner violence does not always involve physical violence. Abuse can include other forms of mistreatment and cruelty such as emotional, psychological, financial, spiritual and verbal abuse.

Virtual Clinic Visits

The Sexual Assault and Partner Abuse Care Program is adding virtual visits to increase access to care for patients. This will help patients who might not be comfortable coming into the hospital for follow-up appointments. Once a patient is seen in-person for their initial visit, where medical and forensic examinations may be done, the care team would follow up virtually after 48 to 72 hours, four to six weeks, and three months. These virtual visits can be done through secure video conference. To inquire about virtual clinic visits, call 613-798-5555 x 13770

Our Services

Patients may choose any of the following services as part of their care.

Health Care Services

  • Injury Assessment, documentation and treatment of injuries
  • Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing
  • Emergency contraception (Plan B)
  • Pregnancy testing
  • Post exposure prophylaxis for HIV (HIV PEP)
  • Immunization for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, Gardasil (as provincially funded)
  • Photo documentation of injuries
  • Crisis counselling
  • Safety planning
  • Risk/Threat Assessment
  • Referral for trauma counselling (liaisoned by our community partner Ottawa Victim Services)

Forensic Services

  • Collection and storage of the Sexual Assault Evidence Kit (with or without police involvement)
  • Anonymous reporting to police

SAPACP Outpatient Clinic

There are many short term and long term consequences to being a victim of sexual assault and intimate partner violence.  Your visit may be in the form of an on-site visit, a telephone visit or a video visit. This will depend on you and your individual needs. In addition to our 24/7 list of services above, follow up care in our outpatient specialty clinic provides an opportunity to screen and manage potential short term and long term consequences.  Examples include:

  • Emergency contraception in form of Copper IUD insertion
  • Management and further prescriptions of HIV PEP
  • Serial assessment of injuries (ex strangulation), referral to MD where applicable
  • Photo documentation of injuries
  • Pain management
  • Mental health assessments with screening for depression and post traumatic stress disorder.
  • Diagnosis and medical management of depression, anxiety, PTSD.
  • Follow up assessment, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (HSV, HPV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea.
  • Referral/collaborative care with specialists – counseling options for birth control- IUD insertion for Mirena/Jaydess, head injury clinic, ORTHO, ENT, Neuro etc
  • Crisis intervention and community support services

Our Team

We are a collaborative multidisciplinary trauma-informed medical team prepared to care for you one-on-one in a private, confidential space. We provide a compassionate ,non-judgmental and self empowering approach to care for all people using our services. Upon your request your care will be initiated within one hour of arrival to the emergency department at the Civic Campus

The following SAPACP dedicated health-care professionals are available to provide and advocate for your care:

Clinical team

  • Trauma trained Emergency Room Nurses who have dedicated themselves to your care through education, experience and community support from the Provincial Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres
  • Kari Sampsel, MD MSc FRCPC DipForSci Medical Director, Sexual Assault and Partner Abuse Care Program, Attending Emergency Physician
  • Dedicated Social Worker
  • 24/7 Emergency Care Team

Contact Us

We provide 24-hour emergency services, 365 days a year, for the Greater Ottawa Area, located within the Emergency Department at The Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus.


For life-threatening emergencies, dial 911.


Location:
The Ottawa Hospital – Civic Campus
1053 Carling Avenue
Ottawa ON K1Y 4EY


Tel.: 613-798-5555 x 13770
TTY: 613-761-4140 (8 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Fax: 613- 761-4985


Note: If you are a health-care professional with questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. Find us on e-consult!

Accessibility

  • TTY phone
  • We offer free sign language and language interpretation services if needed
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Prophylactic medications are provided free of charge

Return to all programs

Last updated on: March 4th, 2021