Human Trafficking: Clinical Recognition, Documentation, and Intervention - 2 AOA Category 1-A Credits

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Analyze human trafficking, human smuggling, major forms of exploitation, and common trafficking venues in Michigan and across the United States using the Action, Means, Purpose model.

2. Identify physical, psychological, behavioral, and environmental warning signs of human trafficking in adult and minor patients during a whole-person osteopathic medical assessment.

3. Select trauma-informed screening and objective documentation strategies, including appropriate assessment instruments and ICD-10-CM coding, for osteopathic medical practice.

4. Determine legally informed response, referral, and reporting actions using federal resources, applicable state reporting requirements, facility policies, patient autonomy, and institutional safety procedures.

This training equips osteopathic physicians to bridge the identification gap by transitioning from clinical intuition to an evidence-based assessment framework. Osteopathic physicians examine the Action, Means, Purpose (AMP) model to differentiate trafficking from smuggling and review how reporting duties, documentation practices, and institutional response requirements may vary by state. The curriculum focuses on screening tools, safe-separation protocols, trauma-informed assessment, objective documentation, and appropriate ICD-10-CM coding. By evaluating systemic vulnerabilities and ethical tensions involving autonomy and mandatory reporting, this course prepares osteopathic physicians to respond to suspected trafficking through survivor-centered, legally informed, and whole-person care.

A significant practice gap exists because osteopathic physicians may encounter patients experiencing trafficking without consistently using structured assessment methods. Although osteopathic physicians may recognize general warning signs, specialized skills involving safe separation, trauma-informed interviewing, identification of coercive control, objective documentation, and legally appropriate responses remain underused. Reporting duties, facility requirements, staff protections, and referral pathways may also change over time and differ by jurisdiction. This course addresses these gaps by connecting clinical evidence with practical strategies that enable osteopathic physicians to assess patients comprehensively, document suspected exploitation accurately, respect patient autonomy when legally appropriate, and respond in accordance with applicable law and facility policy.