COUNTY CERTIFIES CENTER DEALING WITH SEX ASSAULT.

Byline: Daily News

LANCASTER - The new Sexual Assault Response Team Center at Antelope Valley Hospital has earned the certification of the Los Angeles County Department of Health.

The certification makes the hospital one of 13 in Los Angeles County with SART centers, which provide coordinated response services in facilities dedicated exclusively to serving the needs of sexual assault victims. It is the only SART center in the Antelope Valley.

Medics and law enforcement previously handled these cases in the emergency room, said Jim Gocke, director of the center.

``This is a safe and quiet location on the hospital campus, removed from the distractions of the E.R.,'' Gocke said. ``It provides privacy for victims and allows all of the parties involved to interact in a focused and coordinated way, which greatly improves the processes necessary to help those who have experienced sexual assault.''

Requirements for certification included staffing by professionals specially trained in examining assault victims. Gocke, a nurse practitioner affiliated with the Antelope Valley Emergency Medicine Association, is one of six who have undergone training at the California Medical Training Center.

``With trained examiners and our new equipment, we've been able to decrease the time needed to examine a victim and collect evidence by half,'' Gocke said. ``Whereas it took approximately eight hours in the emergency room, it now takes an average of four hours. That's very important for the victims and their families.''

Among those involved in assisting victims at the center are sheriff's deputies, prosecutors and victims' advocates.

``Many people and organizations deserve thanks for their efforts in making this a reality,'' said Sandy Darrington, director of the advocacy group. ``The hospital donated a location, while its auxiliary furnished seed money. There were also numerous others, including the E.R. doctors at AVH and, of course, Jim Gocke, whose time, energy and talents helped make this project a success.''

Hospital Chief Executive Officer Les Wong said he was pleased with the opening and certification of the SART Center. ``With the center, we're able to provide an even higher level of assistance to sexual assault victims in the Antelope Valley,'' he said.