Rural communities face unique challenges in providing access to timely, trauma-informed medical forensic care to survivors of sexual violence. This webinar explores the development and expansion of rural Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs in West Virginia and the statewide strategies used to improve access to medical forensic care. Participants will review the history of forensic nursing and SANE program development within the state, the role of the West Virginia Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) Commission, and the impact of establishing a full-time SANE Coordinator position.

The session will discuss barriers unique to rural healthcare systems, including geographic isolation, staffing shortages, low patient volume, limited funding, and provider burnout. Attendees will learn how statewide coordination, standardized training, mentorship, multidisciplinary collaboration, and targeted program support initiatives have been implemented in West Virginia to strengthen program sustainability and expand access to care. Through real-world examples and lessons learned, attendees will gain practical ideas for strengthening rural SANE systems, supporting nurses, and improving survivor access to care within resource-limited communities.

OBJECTIVES

• Identify barriers impacting rural access to medical forensic care
• Discuss strategies used to improve SANE training access, mentorship, and program sustainability in West Virginia
• Identify approaches that may be adapted to strengthen rural forensic nursing programs within their own communities

PRESENTERS

Teresa Devitt-Lynch MSN, RN, AFN-C, AFN-BC, SANE-A received her BSN in 1998 from Old Dominion University and MSN in 2011 from UW-Madison. She began forensic nursing in 2011 and is board certified in Advanced Forensic Nursing and Adult/Adolescent Sexual Assault Nurse Examinations. She is a retired veteran of the U.S. Navy with a military nursing background in medical/surgical nursing, couplet care, ambulatory surgery, education and training, and forensic healthcare. While on active duty, Devitt-Lynch was a Tri-Service Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examiner Trainer and expert consultant for military court martial proceedings for all military branches. She has continued consulting and educating since her retirement from the U.S. Navy. She served on the Academy of Forensic Nursing Board of Directors from 2022–2025. Teresa is the founder of INTREPID Forensic Healthcare Consulting, which is dedicated to forensic analysis of criminal cases involving abuse, assault, and other medical issues; expert testimony; and educational offerings located in Fargo, North Dakota.

Brittany DeCrease, BSN, RN, SANE-A, is the West Virginia State Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Coordinator. Her nursing career began in 2011 in emergency nursing. Brittany earned her BSN in 2017 and served as the Emergency Department Nurse Manager and Trauma Program Coordinator at WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital until 2024. She has practiced forensic nursing since 2020 providing care to adults, adolescents and pediatric patients in West Virginia. As the State SANE Coordinator, Brittany works closely with hospitals, multidisciplinary partners, and the West Virginia Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Commission to strengthen forensic nursing services statewide. Her work focuses on expanding rural access to forensic care, supporting SANE program development and training accessibility, mentoring, and improving statewide collaboration and sustainability of forensic nursing services. Brittany is passionate about improving access to trauma-informed care for survivors of sexual violence in underserved communities and advancing the growth of rural forensic nursing programs.

Enduring Modules - This module originated on 9/9/2026 and will remain available for CE credit through 12/30/2026

Criteria for Successful Completion:

Live attendees must join the zoom link via the LMS site, be logged in for a minimum of 90% of the session, and successfully complete the attestation and evaluation. Upon completion, a CE certificate for 1.25 contact hours will be awarded. 

Recordings of the live session will be made available within one week of the live date. 

Asynchronous attendees must utilize the LMS to obtain resource information (if available), view 100% of recording(s), complete all modules, and successfully complete the attestation and evaluation. Upon completion, a CE certificate for 1.25 contact hours will be awarded.

No relevant financial relationships exist for any individuals in a position to control content of this educational activity.

NOTE:

The Academy of Forensic Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.