Police Chief Mike Davis speaks on domestic violence at the Wills Memorial Hospital Tea and Learn. Washington Chief of Police Mike Davis and Wills Memorial Hospital ER physician Dr. Stan Coe presented a program on domestic violence at the Wills Memorial Hospital Tea and Learn on Thursday, November 9, in the cafeteria.

In their presentation it was noted that women suffer from domestic violence every nine seconds and many instances are never reported. Health-related costs of rape, physical assault, stalking and homicide committed by intimate partners exceed $5.8 billion each year. Of that

amount, nearly $4.1 billion are for direct medical and mental health services and nearly $1.8 billion are for indirect costs of lost productivity or wages.

It was also related that emergency room physicians are patient advocates who see the problems firsthand and can play an important role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.

For more information on this program or other upcoming programs sponsored by the Wills Memorial Hospital contact Pat Niemann at 706-678-9272.