Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs to Address Social Determinants of Health and Violence

Abstract

Purpose of Review: This review seeks to help the reader understand the current state of hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) and discuss the next steps in creating a widely adaptable public health model for violence intervention. Recent Findings: HVIPs are an emerging practice in hospitals and trauma centers. These programs employ public health principles to reduce the impact of social determinants of health on at-risk populations. To date, evaluation of these programs demonstrates increased positive intermediate outcomes and decreased recidivism. Summary: Interest in HVIPs is growing due largely to a surge in the trauma community’s engagement in solutions to the epidemic of community violence and due to the development of a best practices HVIP model. National partnerships and organizations have become key to the dissemination of this public health model. With increased interest and positive outcomes, key stakeholders, including cities and states, are investing in the dissemination of these programs as a strategy to decrease violence, including firearm injury, in their populations.