Part III: Navigating an encounter with a trafficked person in the dermatology clinic.

Abstract

Patients experiencing or having experienced trafficking frequently interact with the health care system, highlighting the need for health care providers to be equipped with the appropriate tools to serve these patients effectively. The third part of this series focuses on navigating encounters with trafficked persons within the dermatology clinic, emphasizing the importance of trauma-informed, patient-centered care. We reviewed the barriers trafficked patients face and mechanisms to overcome them, the importance of comprehensive needs assessments, and the implementation of effective health care protocols. We additionally review the role of dermatologists in mandatory reporting and the use of appropriate International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes for documenting a potential trafficking victim encounter in the electronic medical record. We conclude with recommendations for specialized training, emphasizing the critical role dermatologists play in identifying and supporting trafficked patients within the health care system.