Beyond physical healing: Hospital programs follow up with gunshot victims

As the number of gunshot victims showing up the emergency department continues to rise, WakeMed is working to launch a new program it hopes will provide gun violence survivors support and resources to avoid the chance of another shooting or re-injury or retaliation.

WakeMed treated 206 people for firearm-related injuries in 2022, a 5% increase from the previous year. The number of people under 18 injured in intentional, accidental and self-inflicted shootings more than tripled — from nine victims in 2021 to 31 victims in 2022.

Dr. Osi Udekwu, executive director of trauma services at WakeMed, said the trauma of gun violence can be long-lasting.

“There’s no guarantee you are going to be as productive or happy even when you appear to have fully physically healed," he said.

Udekwu has been involved in the planning of a new Hospital-Based Intervention Program (HVIP). WakeMed is applying for a grant from the North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission and plans to hire a licensed counselor “to support patients who are victims of violence in an effort to prevent future incidents.”

“We are building the relationships with the community resources already,” Udekwu said.

WakeMed said it is developing a partnership with the Raleigh-Apex NAACP which received $1.2 million from the city of Raleigh to launch a Violence Interrupter Program.

Gerald Givens, president of the local NAACP chapter, said the goal is to have a five-person street outreach team working in the city’s crime hotspots by the summer.

“They will show up on the scene. They will be at the hospital. They will be there with the people when they leave the hospital,” Givens said.

Duke University Hospital launched its HVIP in September. In four months, the Violence Recovery Program has provided support to 49 gun violence survivors.

“Gun violence is everybody’s issue. It’s a public health issue just like coronavirus,” said Uzuri Holder, program manager.

Holder, a licensed clinical social worker with 17 years experience in the field, leads the three-person team that includes two senior violence recovery specialists.

The team often makes contact with patients within hours of their arrival to the hospital while they are still admitted. The support they offer ranges from setting up counseling and therapy to housing, job and transportation support.

“If they are from Durham, we continue to follow them for up to 12 months to provide intensive case management,” Holder explained.

“Whatever they need, we are going to help them with. And we have helped them with. Even if it’s a driver’s license and we have to go to the DMV with you to help you, we are going to do that.”

Since 2018, gun-related injuries at Duke University Hospital have increased 48%. Last year, doctors treated 335 patients, including 49 people under 18..

Holder said those who survive violent encounters often need help beyond surgery and wound care, including housing, income and food insecurity.

“People are thinking about gun violence as just gang violence. It is not,” she said. “We see what happened in California. People were celebrating the New Year, and the next thing you know they are dead. It should be a concern for everyone."

Uzuri said Duke’s program hopes to expand in February to support patients with less serious gunshot injuries. The program currently supports patients who are admitted into the hospital.

WakeMed expects its HVIP to launch this summer.