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Dr. Robert Lipson is CEO of WellStar Health System.

In an unmarked room at Well-Star Windy Hill Hospital, Cobb County is setting up its first program dedicated to treating sexual assault victims.

In this nondescript room, officials hope to accomplish two important goals: make the victims more comfortable and collect better evidence to prosecute rapists.

The emergency room, where victims of sexual assault usually end up, isn't the appropriate setting for collecting evidence and treating the victims, most of whom don't need emergency treatment, said WellStar CEO Dr. Robert Lipson.

The program is staffed with nine always-on-call nurses specially trained to examine sexual assault victims and collect forensic
evidence, which is crucial to prosecuting perpetrators.

ˆIts intent is not only not to revictimize the victim but it's also to make sure we get good forensic collection,– said Sandra Boyce, executive director of the YWCA of Northwest Georgia.

The new Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program is run and financed by the YWCA, WellStar Health System and the Cobb County district attorney's office. The Windy Hill location will serve all of the county's jurisdictions.

Police and health care officials are excited about the program, which has proven successful in Gwinnett, Clarke, Cherokee and Fulton counties.

The program was launched Nov. 14. About 50 victims are expected to be treated the first year.

The district attorney's office believes that the program will allow for better evidence collection, which could result in more
prosecutions for sex crimes.

The Marietta Police Department believes the program may take away the fear from victims when they seek help.

- This article is a reprint from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.