Medical Options

Whether or not you choose to file a report, it is important that you obtain medical treatment following an assault. 

A rape evidence exam to collect evidence for criminal prosecution should be performed as soon as possible after an assault.  You can have the exam completed and decide later if you want to file a police report.  Having the exam completed keeps your options open.  This exam can only be performed at a hospital emergency room.  Locally, this exam is performed at:

Advocate BroMenn Medical Center   1304 Franklin Ave.  (Virginia at Franklin Ave.)  Normal, Illinois (309) 454-1400

OSF St. Joseph Medical Center  2200 East Washington Street  Bloomington, Illinois  (309) 662-3311

If you do not want to go to the hospital, services are available at Student Health Service. If you are not sure what you want to do, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Survivor Services Coordinator (309-438-7948 or 309-438-2778), or one of the medical providers (309-438-3655) can review your options with you.

What to Expect at the Hospital Emergency Room

• You may request that someone remain with you at the hospital. Ask that the hospital contact a YWCA Stepping Stones Rape Crisis advocate for you.
• For women, a pelvic exam will be conducted with your permission.
• You will be checked for injuries and can be tested for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and pregnancy. 
• Follow up care and treatment is important because you may not know that you have a STI until several weeks or months after it has been transmitted.  Follow up testing for STIs is recommended six to eight weeks following an assault and can be completed at Student Health Service.   Pregnancy cannot be diagnosed for that episode of intercourse for two to three weeks.
• Discuss your concerns about pregnancy and STIs with the doctor.  He or she may give you emergency contraceptive pills at the time of the exam. OSF St. Joseph Medical center will not provide emergency contraception but will provide a prescription for this medication. You should receive information on any medication given to you.  Make sure you know the name, dosage, purpose and possible side effects of any medication you receive.
• Some assailants may use drugs to physically control their victims and render them defenseless.  If you believe that you were drugged, inform your doctor.  Blood or urine tests may detect the presence of drugs in your system; however, testing should be done as soon as possible because some drugs can only be detected within six to eight hours after ingestion.
• With your permission the doctor will complete a rape evidence kit and also collect other physical evidence of rape (samples of body fluids, hair, fingernail scrapings) to be turned over the police. 
• Hospital personnel are required to contact police when they provide treatment for injuries resulting from a crime.  Though police will come to the hospital, you do not have to talk with the police.  If you speak with the police they may want to retain your clothing as evidence.  You may take a change of clothing with you to the hospital, or the hospital can provide you with a change of clothing.

Cost of Medical Services

If a police report is filed, there should be no cost to you for services you receive at the emergency room.

For charges incurred at the hospital emergency room the hospital will bill one insurance.  Students who have the Illinois State University Student Insurance plan may choose to have only that policy billed.  Students may decline to bill their parent’s insurance.  Students will receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) form from their insurance company.  If they do not want it sent to their home, they can specify that it be sent to another address or back to Illinois State University, Student Insurance Office, Campus Box 2540, Normal, IL  61790-2541

The state has established several programs to provide financial assistance to survivors of sexual assault.  The Sexual Assault Survivor’s Emergency Treatment Act can cover emergency room costs.  The hospital will bill this fund for you. This fund is available through the Illinois Department of Public Aid.  Funds available through the Sexual Assault Survivor’s Emergency Treatment Act can only be applied to expenses incurred at a hospital emergency room.

You should not receive a bill from the hospital, but if you do, or have concerns about this issue, contact the Sexual Assault Prevention and Survivor Services Coordinator at 438-7948 for assistance.

The Illinois Crime Victims Compensation Act, administered through the Attorney General’s Office, can reimburse victims of violent crimes for a variety of expenses, including medical expenses, loss of earnings, and psychological counseling, etc. However to be eligible for this funding, an individual must be identified as a crime victim and a police report must be filed within 72 hours of the assault. These funds are available only if the case is prosecuted.