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Acute Treatment Center After Sexual Assault

Dr. Zohar Sahar, Director of The Department for the Prevention and Treatment of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, National Social Work Services, Ministry of Health;  Tal Solomonica, M.S.W., District Social Worker for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Health
16 June 2025

If you were sexually assaulted in the past week, you may be overwhelmed by feelings of isolation, difficulty and confusion. These feelings are only natural after what you have experienced but you should not stay alone with this. You should seek help and treatment at one of the 11 acute centers located in hospitals throughout the country that are designed to provide an initial medical response immediately after the assault.

An acute center or an acute room is a special emergency clinic that provides an immediate response to anyone who has been sexually assaulted within the past week.

The response is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week while maintaining complete confidentiality and privacy, and is intended for all ages (when the victim is a minor under the age of 18, it is best to contact the Beit Lynn Protection Center for Children and Youth).

The acute centers employ experienced professional staff who have undergone training in sexual trauma. The staff' role is to provide trauma-personalized and sensitive medical care, to protect the rights of victims and to closely support victims throughout the process.

Treatment in one of the acute rooms should be sought as soon as possible, preferably within the first 72 hours from the date of the assault. The reason being is that during this period of time, medical and emotional care as well as the collection of forensic evidence if necessary is most effective within this time period (your choice entirely). We understand that it may be extremely difficult and complicated for you to arrive for this treatment, and this decision requires tremendous courage. In any case, it is important that you know that you are not alone, and that a professional and supportive staff will be by your side during every stage to help you in the best and most dignified manner possible.

What to expect

  • Initial admission by the nurse.
  • Close accompaniment of a social worker throughout the process and guidance for further coping with sexual assault.
  • General medical examination and receiving medical recommendations based on your physical condition.
  •  Treatment of physical injuries.
  • Pregnancy prevention treatment.
  • Medication if necessary to prevent contraction of sexually transmitted diseases.
  • Blood and urine tests to detect medication, drugs and alcohol.
  • Provision of initial emotional assistance to help you organize your thoughts and make decisions on how to act.
  • Provision of information about receiving supervision and continuation of emotional therapy.
  • Collection of forensic evidence that will be used to file a future complaint with the police (if this is what you want).
  • Non-forensic test to detect foreign substance - a medical test that is unrelated to legal evidence or criminal investigation.

For information and to contact the acute centers in Israel

Sexual assault is any behavior of a sexual nature that is committed forcibly and without consent. This is a serious violent crime that exploits gaps in age or positions of authority that prevent the victim from being able to resist or defend themselves. Every year, thousands of women and men turn to rape crisis centers seeking help and support. However, many victims fear being exposed, and therefore avoid seeking the emotional and medical assistance to which they are entitled.

Difficult feelings such as guilt, shame, anger, disgust, sadness, and anxiety are extremely common reactions following a sexual assault. It is important to remember that you are not alone, and that you deserve support in coping with the traumatic event you experienced. You deserve to receive help, recover, and restore a sense of security in your life.

The information on this page is intended to provide information and guidance to victims in the moments following the difficult event they experienced (up to a week after the assault): what must be done, who to contact, and where you can find sensitive and discreet support that is personalized to meet your needs.

Comprehensive Treatment Under One Roof

If you were sexually assaulted in the past week, you may be overwhelmed by feelings of isolation, difficulty and confusion. It is important that you know that you are not alone and that there are people you can turn to. You should contact one of 11 acute centers operating in hospitals across Israel to receive professional assistance and support that is personalized to your needs.

You may find it difficult to discuss what happened and you may feel that you only want to move on and try to forget the incident. At the same time, it is important that you know that this type of traumatic event does not disappear on its own and may have long-term effects, possibly even resulting in the development of PTSD. It is therefore strongly recommended that you seek treatment as soon as possible and rely on the professional support you deserve. We also understand that there may be reasons that make it difficult for you to obtain medical treatment, but it is important to remember that receiving treatment soon after the assault may be critical.

The acute center, or the acute room, is also known as “Room 4” after the first acute room that opened in 2000 at Wolfson Medical Center. This center is a special space designed to provide an immediate initial medical response - up to one week after the incident, to victims of sexual assault, both children and adults. The center operates 24/7 while maintaining full confidentiality and privacy.

The treatment at acute centers is administered in a professional, sensitive, containing and dignified manner. The medical staff that will meet with you undergo comprehensive training that broadens their knowledge of the aspects of traumatic injury and its possible repercussions. They are equipped with tools that allow them to speak with you in a sensitive and considerate manner, protect your rights, and provide the support and guidance you need in the coping and rehabilitation process.

The sensitive treatment, which is specifically tailored for trauma victims, is designed to prevent the aggravation of the trauma, facilitate healing and rehabilitation, and restore your sense of security and control over your life.

Important to emphasize

Important to emphasize

When discussing an assault of a minor under the age of 18, it is best to contact the The Beit Lynn Protection Center for Children and Youth, which offers a medical and therapeutic response that is adapted to this age range. If necessary, a meeting can be convened with a pediatric and adolescent investigator to collect testimony. Since these centers do not operate 24/7, during off-hours, the acute centers may be contacted.

Recommendations before arriving at the acute room

  • Make contact as soon as possible You should arrive at the acute room within 72 hours from the time of the assault. Early arrival facilitates more effective medical treatment as well as collection of forensic evidence (completely your decision).

  • If more than 72 hours have passed since the assault, you should contact the acute center closest to you. The professional staff will instruct you on the best possible date for your arrival and will provide you with all of the necessary information.

  • The importance of timing - due to the date-rape drug: Many cases of sexual assault involve use of the date rape drug, which causes fogginess and loss of consciousness, inability to resist and inability to remember the events. Traces of date rape drug can be detected in blood and urine tests, but it is important to know that they clear the body within a short period of time. Hence, if you suspect that you were harmed by the date rape drug and 72 hours have not yet elapsed since the incident, it is important that you visit the acute centers as soon as possible and mention your suspicion.

  • Wait with the shower: Your instinct after the assault may likely be to get clean, to wipe yourself off and to take a shower. Having said that, we recommend that you do not do this before visiting the acute center and that you should even bring with you the clothes you were wearing at the time of the assault. These items may help the professional staff gather forensic evidence. Even if it's less of a concern to you right now, it's important to remember that this evidence may help you file a police complaint in the future. It is important to emphasize that you do not need to file a complaint – the decision is yours alone. At the same time, you should consider gathering forensic evidence, since your feelings or desires may change over the next several weeks or months.

What to expect

Upon your arrival at the acute room, a process will begin aimed at providing you with personalized care and support. During the first stage, an admissions process will be conducted that includes intake of information and medical history (anamnesis), and any necessary tests. The following are the stages that you can expect:

During the first stage, upon arrival at the medical center, you must approach the ER for the admissions process. The nurse will ask you brief questions about the reason for your arrival, the date of the assault and your current medical condition. The nurse will also measure your vital signs and, if necessary, perform additional tests. If it is suspected that the assault occurred due to a combination of medications, drugs, or alcohol administered without your consent, a suggestion may be made that you undergo blood and urine tests for further investigation.

Upon admission, they will inquire whether your arrival at the acute center was scheduled in advance by phone . It is important to know whether arrival at the acute room can be independent or with a referral from the police, MDA or through any other , and they will If you did not arrange your arrival, you can ask to contact the center .institution The. send a social worker to accompany you throughout the process and to manage your case personal accompaniment includes opening a completely confidential file, detailed explanation about the expected medical process, provision of support and assistance during the tests, as well as counseling and instructions for after being discharged from the hospital.

 In the next stage, you will be referred for a number of tests and treatments that will be performed by a doctor from the acute center (late at night, vital measurements and tests to detect banned substances in the blood may be performed in the emergency room, until the relevant staff arrives to continue treatment in the acute room), such as:

  •  General medical examination: to assess the state of your health.
  • Laboratory tests: including tests for pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and tests to detect banned substances in the blood and urine.
  • Treatment of bruises and injuries: if necessary.
  • Pregnancy prevention treatment: if necessary.
  • Medication: to prevent contraction of sexually transmitted diseases.
  • Mental health evaluation: to provide emotional support and continued care respectively.

In this stage, you can choose to perform a test to collect forensic evidence - the decision is completely yours. This test, performed by qualified physicians or forensic specialists, is not mandatory, but it may be helpful to you, depending on your decision to file a complaintin the future.

Prior to discharge from the center, you will be given a discharge summary that includes:

  • Basic information only (the letter will not include test results).
  • Discharge instructions: such as the recommendation for one-week sick leave.
  • Referral to an infectious diseases clinic, if necessary.
  • Referral for repeat laboratory tests: for continued follow-up.
  • Information about support as well as physical and emotional therapeutic options in the community to continue the recovery and coping processes.

This letter is intended to assist you in the future and connect you to additional professional support sources. Even after being discharged, you can contact the center to receive assistance and support, as well as additional test or to receive results of the tests that were taken.

Important to know

Important to know

 In part of the process, you will be asked intimate questions that may be unpleasant. These types of question are important for gathering evidence but if they cause you discomfort, you should inform the staff, and they will try to make it as easy for you as possible. Even during the physical examination, it is important to know that you have the right to stop the examination at any time, ask questions, and receive an explanation of what is happening.

Option to file a complaint with the police

If your forensic evidence was collected, they will be sent for deposit at the Israel Police’s logistics center, where they will be stored for approximately 50 years. The police cannot use evidence without your expressed consent, so if you decide to file a complaint with the police, it is important to mention when filing the complaint that tests were taken by you at the acute center, so that the police will collect them and continue with their work.

Your rights at the acute center

  • The hospital is required to inform the police of any sexual violent incident that they treat - but you have the right not to file a complaint.
  • If you decide to file a police complaint, you can do so while you are at the acute center, or at a police station at a later date.
  • You have the right to receive information about the expected bureaucratic and medical procedures at every stage of the medical process.
  •  You have the right to be accompanied by a family member, friend, or other companion.
  • At any point in the process, you may refuse or stop the test if you do not feel comfortable.

It is important for us to reiterate that dealing with sexual assault can be very difficult and therefore, it is not worth dealing with alone. There are now systems available for assistance and support to lend you a guiding hand and professional help when needed - one of the most important of which is the acute center. Seeking help may not be easy for you now but it is an important step that has medical, preventive, legal, therapeutic, and rehabilitative significance both in the immediate term and for the rest of your life. It is important to remember that you have every right to feel safe, to choose how to deal with what you have been through, to seek help from those you are comfortable with, and to receive appropriate support and treatment.

Addresses and telephones of acute centers

You can find more information about Acute Treatment Center After Sexual Assault– including addresses, phone numbers, and a location-based search map – on the Government Services website.

For information on the Government Services website