Domestic Violence CME for Florida Physicians

Domestic violence remains a pervasive and urgent public health issue affecting individuals across all demographics and backgrounds. This 2-hour CME course provides Florida physicians—and providers in other mandated states—with essential knowledge and skills to recognize, intervene, and prevent instances of domestic violence. Participants will explore clinical signs and risk factors across diverse populations, including children, the elderly, and vulnerable adults. The course outlines the physician’s legal responsibilities under Florida law, with an emphasis on documentation, mandated reporting, and patient advocacy.

In addition to providing practical screening and intervention strategies, the course also highlights the importance of trauma-informed care and collaboration with community resources, shelters, legal systems, and multidisciplinary teams. Physicians will gain a deeper understanding of their role in protecting patients and promoting safety while addressing the underlying dynamics and barriers that often prevent victims from seeking help. This training is ideal for clinicians seeking to enhance their knowledge of domestic violence response within clinical and institutional settings, especially those required to meet license renewal mandates in Florida, Delaware, Connecticut, Kentucky, and the District of Columbia.

Educational Objectives

• Define domestic violence and understand its prevalence in Florida and nationally.
• Identify the signs and risk factors of domestic violence across various populations.
• Recognize physicians’ unique roles and responsibilities in addressing domestic violence.
• Understand Florida’s legal requirements for reporting and documenting domestic violence cases.
• Implement effective screening and intervention strategies for victims and perpetrators of domestic violence.
• Collaborate with community resources and multidisciplinary teams to support victims.

Who Should Take This Course

This course is designed for:

• Florida physicians are required to complete domestic violence CME for license renewal.
• Physicians in Delaware, Kentucky, Connecticut, and the District of Columbia have similar mandates.
• Physician assistants, family medicine providers, emergency physicians, and OB-GYNs.
• Any healthcare provider seeking to improve their role in recognizing and responding to domestic violence in clinical practice.

Did You Know?

• 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men have experienced severe intimate partner violence in their lifetime. [CDC, 2023]
• Florida mandates 2 hours of domestic violence CME every third license renewal cycle for physicians. [FL Board of Medicine]
• Only 34% of individuals injured by an intimate partner receive medical care for their injuries. [NCADV]
• Healthcare providers often represent the only point of contact for victims seeking help.
• Physicians can play a pivotal role in identifying abuse and breaking the cycle of violence.