Coastal Bend Hospitals Expand 24/7 Forensic Care
Coastal Bend survivors will soon access faster forensic care and emotional support through expanded regional services across South Texas communities.
Beginning at midnight on June 13, 11 medical centers across the Coastal Bend will start offering forensic care services around the clock. The effort aims to remove one of the biggest barriers survivors face after an assault: access to timely and specialized care.
The initiative is a partnership between the Coastal Bend Advisory Council (CBRAC), the Texas Forensic Nurse Examiners, and the Purple Door. Together, the organizations hope to improve support systems for survivors in both urban and rural communities.
Texas Sexual Assault Reporting Remains Low
According to state data, nine out of ten sexual assaults in Texas go unreported. Advocates say survivors often avoid seeking help because of fear, trauma, distance, or lack of available medical services.
Forensic medical exams are a critical part of the recovery and investigation process after an assault. However, many communities in the Coastal Bend previously lacked trained forensic nurses and survivor advocacy resources.
As a result, survivors frequently faced long travel times to receive care. For many individuals dealing with trauma, that burden created another obstacle during an already difficult situation.
The new program aims to change that by bringing specialized services closer to home.
11 Coastal Bend Medical Centers Join Program
Under the expanded system, hospitals and medical facilities in seven Coastal Bend counties will provide access to forensic care services at any time of day.
Five participating sites will operate within Nueces County. Additional facilities will also serve survivors in:
- Aransas County
- Bee County
- Jim Wells County
- Kleberg County
- San Patricio County
- Refugio County
Officials say the regional approach ensures survivors can receive care more quickly without having to travel long distances.
Specialized Nurses Available Within 90 Minutes
One of the key features of the new system is rapid response access to trained forensic nurses.
Under the program, each participating center will have access to a specialized community nurse who can arrive within 90 minutes of a survivor’s arrival at the medical facility.
These professionals conduct forensic exams, collect evidence, and provide trauma-informed medical care.
Advocates say having properly trained forensic nurses available at multiple locations represents a major step forward for survivor support in the Coastal Bend region.
In addition to medical care, survivors will also receive immediate emotional assistance.
Purple Door Advocates Provide Emotional Support
During each forensic visit, a Purple Door advocate will support the survivor throughout the process at the medical center.
Advocates can provide emotional guidance, crisis intervention, counseling referrals, and assistance in navigating available services.
Supporters of the initiative say combining forensic care with advocacy services helps survivors feel safer and less isolated during a traumatic experience.
The Purple Door has long served survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in the Coastal Bend area. Leaders say expanding access to advocacy directly in hospitals strengthens the overall response system.
Rural Survivors Faced Long Travel Burdens
Before the expansion, only one hospital in Corpus Christi offered forensic services for sexual assault survivors across the broader Coastal Bend region.
That limited availability created serious challenges for people living in surrounding counties.
Maribel Arredondo, a resident case manager at the Purple Door, explained how difficult travel could become for survivors seeking help after an assault. Arredondo said survivors in Beeville previously traveled an hour for forensic exams, creating additional hardship after sexual assault trauma.
Advocates believe the new system will reduce delays in care and encourage more survivors to seek medical attention and support services.
Regional Leaders Hope to Improve Survivor Care
Community organizations involved in the project say the expansion reflects a growing commitment to survivor-centered care throughout South Texas.
By increasing access to forensic nurses and advocacy resources, leaders hope more survivors will feel empowered to seek help after an assault.
The launch also represents a broader effort to strengthen healthcare access in underserved rural areas where specialized services can be difficult to reach.
Officials say the new network will operate continuously and remain available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Advocates hope expanded access will reduce barriers, improve survivor outcomes, and strengthen support services across Coastal Bend communities.