After garnering the top prize for patient-care video at the FREDDIE International Health Care Media Awards, the UC Davis Children's Hospital CAARE (Child and Adolescent Abuse Resources and Evaluation Diagnostic and Treatment) Center was also honored with a prestigious Surgeon General's Award as 2008's Best Educational Video for Health-Care Professionals. Both awards were presented at the FREDDIE ceremonies in November.

The video, "Compassionate Care: An Overview of the Sexual Assault Clinical Forensic Medical Exam," was produced for the California Clinical Forensic Medical Training Center. It presents a complete overview of the forensic medical evidentiary examination for a sexual assault victim, conducted according to state of California protocols. The exam video was developed as a curriculum tool for the center's sexual assault forensic examiner training, a five-day instruction program for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants and registered nurses.

In the hourlong video, the viewer follows a young woman from the time of her assault through her forensic sexual examination. The examiner takes the victim and the viewer through each step of the exam. Throughout the procedure, the examiner models the compassion essential to helping the victim feel safe and in control of the exam process, a vital first step toward healing. The production was funded by the training center's operating grant, which is provided by the governor's Office of Emergency Services. It was produced by David Gottleib of Never a Dull Moment Productions of Los Angeles.

Each year, the FREDDIE Awards competition attracts hundreds of submissions from around the world, including documentaries, series, shorts, videos, Web sites and CD-ROMs in 32 categories, including oncology, diabetes, fitness/wellness, infectious diseases, prevention and women's health. The competition is now in its 34th year.

UC Davis Children's Hospital is the Sacramento region's only comprehensive hospital for children. From primary care offices to specialty and intensive care clinics, pediatric experts provide compassionate care to more than 100,000 children each year and conduct research on causes and improved treatments for conditions such as autism, asthma, obesity, cancer and birth defects. For more information, visit www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/children.