Emergency care

If you or someone you know is experiencing a medical emergency, always call 911 first. We provide adult emergency care for a number of conditions, but some illnesses and injuries, while urgent, may not be life-threatening. These might be better suited for a visit to an urgent care center instead. If you're not sure you need to head to the ER, talk to a nurse first. Call (210) 575-0355.

At our hospital, we are focused on providing the community the care they need in a safe environment, so our team has continuously enhanced safety measures and protocols for patients, visitors, physicians and staff.

The Forensic Nursing Service department is staffed by specially trained nurses called Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, or SANEs. SANEs at our hospital provide specialized forensic care to those 13 years old and older. If you are reporting or concerned about sexual assault or abuse in someone younger, care is coordinated with additional community providers.

To speak to our team about Forensic Nursing Services, call (210) 575-1590.

SANE nurses work with emergency department staff and other providers as part of a treatment team to provide comprehensive care for those reporting sexual assault and abuse, including medical screenings when you may be offered treatment related to other concerns. Some of the common concerns for those reporting a sexual assault or abuse are related to sexually transmitted infections, HIV, pregnancy, injuries, pain and mental health, all of which can be addressed during the examination.

The medical forensic examination (sometimes call the SANE exam or rape kit) is normally only conducted within 120 hours (five days) of the reported incident for adult patients, but occasionally a law enforcement agency may request an examination beyond this timeframe. When appropriate, you may be offered a medical forensic examination, including evidence collection, which may take a few hours and usually includes:

• Assistance with safety planning
• Collection of medical-forensic evidence
• Emotional support using a multidisciplinary team approach
• Informed consent for every step of the examination, which can be withdrawn at any time
• Photographic documentation
• Physical examination
• Recommendations for ongoing and follow up care
• When requested or required, assistance with reporting the crime to police

SANEs are also available to speak to groups and organizations within the community.

To ensure the safety of vulnerable populations, the law requires a person to report suspected sexual assault or abuse to law enforcement and/or the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services for the following individuals:

• Adolescents younger than 18 years old
• Children
• Elderly
• Individuals with disabilities

If you are 18 years old or older, you may choose to report the sexual assault to law enforcement. You may ask for a medical forensic exam for a sexual assault, even if you choose not to report the assault to law enforcement. However, there are restrictions to examinations in both cases. For questions, contact the Forensic Nursing Services Team or your advocate.

Rape crisis centers provide free and confidential information, counseling, and support. In Bexar County, the local Rape Crisis Center can be contacted at their 24/7 hotline (210) 349-7273, or at their website.

For additional centers:

• Call 1 (800) 656-HOPE to connect with your closest rape crisis center.
• Find more information at the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA)’s Crisis Center Locator

There are two bills for a medical forensic exam for sexual assault — one for medical costs and one for forensic costs. Medical costs, such as medications, X-rays, stitches, facility or provider fees, may be your responsibility. Your medical insurance may cover all or part of your medical costs. The Crime Victims' Compensation (CVC) Program may make a reimbursement payment to you or on your behalf for the reasonable costs of medical care provided.

CVC may reimburse you for a variety of costs, including medical costs, but there are two types of compensation — Crime Victims' Compensation and Emergency Medical Care Compensation - Sexual Assault Exam. You can apply for either compensation with the same application.

To receive reimbursement for only the emergency medical care costs, you do not need to meet all CVC eligibility requirements.

You must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Your advocate can help guide you through this process. Learn more about CVC on the Texas Attorney General's CVC Program Overview webpage.

You are not responsible for paying the forensic costs, such as swabbing for DNA, photographing injuries, or collecting debris. Public agencies are responsible for paying for the forensic part of an exam and for the evidence collection kit with authorization. The health care facility or provider will seek reimbursement for those costs directly from appropriate agencies.

If you receive a bill, contact the Forensic Nursing Services Team at Methodist Hospital Specialty and Transplant for help!

You can track the status and location of your sexual assault evidence collection kit from the time of collection through destruction via Track-Kit. By registering for notifications, you may receive updates regarding the processing of your evidence collection.

Your medical provider will give you a card with:

• The Track-Kit URL (https://tx.track-kit.us),
• Your Track-Kit barcode
• Temporary password you will use to log in for the first time

Questions about Track-Kit:

If you misplace or do not receive the card, please contact your medical provider or the law enforcement agency for help.

For general Track-Kit questions, contact STACS DNA by:

• Phone — (855) 239-0677
• Email — mailto:msupport@stacsdna.com

For more information about Track-Kit:

• Online — DPS Track-Kit webpage
• Email — kittracking@dps.texas.gom

In Texas, Sexual Assault Evidence Kits (SAEKs) are only tested for DNA when submitted to a crime lab by a law enforcement agency. If you did not report the sexual assault to law enforcement your kit will be stored, but not tested, by the Texas Department of Public Safety (or similar agency for military). You can learn more about evidence storage and DPS’ procedures for notifying survivors before the destruction of evidence at — dps.texas.gov/section/crime-laboratory

Results of evidence collection testing are shared with the law enforcement agency only, so if you have questions regarding results of your kit, please reach out to the law enforcement agency handling your case.

Contact Forensic Nursing Services
Phone: (210) 575-1590­­
Fax: (210) 575-1591
Email: SANE@MHShealth.com

We are proud to provide San Antonio with the highest level of emergency care. Because of our commitment to excellence, our ER received the prestigious Excellence in Patient Care Award from the Studer Group. The Studer Group works with over 800 healthcare organizations worldwide, coaching them on how to achieve and sustain the highest quality clinical outcomes.

Our ER is located in the main hospital by the front entrance located directly off of Floyd Curl Drive. We offer a parking garage and a parking lot for patients and visitors. Once you walk through the main ER entrance, please come to our triage window to speak to one of our team members. We will bring you back to a room as soon as one is available.