WhidbeyHealth Partners With FERNS, Expands Forensic Nursing Access

WhidbeyHealth and Forensic Emergency Response & Nursing Services, known as FERNS, announced a new partnership that will begin November 17 to provide on call forensic nursing coverage every day of the week. The agreement is intended to improve clinical care for survivors of sexual assault and other violent crimes by ensuring trained forensic nurses are available to perform medical forensic exams, provide trauma informed support, and assist with evidence collection and chain of custody.

Forensic nurses play a specialized role in the intersection of health care and the criminal justice system. Their presence supports timely medical assessment and documentation, preserves physical evidence according to accepted protocols, and offers immediate emotional and health related support to people who have experienced violence. By placing these services on Whidbey Island through coordination between FERNS and WhidbeyHealth, the partnership increases local access to care that many communities rely on to meet both health and legal needs.

Local public health officials say access to forensic nursing services can have ripple effects beyond individual patient care. Timely exams and properly handled evidence improve the ability of law enforcement and prosecutors to pursue cases when survivors choose to report. At the same time, having trauma informed clinicians available can reduce the immediate physical and psychological harms associated with violent encounters and connect survivors to follow up medical and social supports.

The arrangement also addresses longstanding equity concerns in rural and island communities where specialized services are often limited. Residents of Island County can face transportation barriers, restricted appointment availability, and longer waits for providers with forensic training. Expanding on island coverage aims to reduce those barriers and help ensure that survivors do not have to travel off island in order to receive comprehensive medical forensic care.

From a policy standpoint, the partnership reflects a model for sustaining scarce clinical expertise through collaboration between regional service providers and local health systems. By contracting with a dedicated forensic nursing program, WhidbeyHealth is investing in capacity that complements emergency department services and community based victim assistance programs.

The new coverage is set to begin November 17 and will operate seven days a week through the FERNS and WhidbeyHealth coordination. For residents this means an increased likelihood that trained forensic nursing care will be available on island at the time it is most needed, supporting both immediate health needs and the preservation of evidence for any legal processes that survivors may pursue.