Peconic Bay Medical Center Now Level III Trauma Center, Offering Advanced Emergency Services

RIVERHEAD, NY — For patients in life or death situations, desperately needed help just became available closer to home.

Peconic Bay Medical Center has been granted provisional status as a Level III trauma center, and will offer advanced emergency services such as resuscitation, emergency surgery, intensive care, and stabilization of injured patients, a release said this week.

PBMC earned provisional status from the New York State Department of Health, making it the only trauma and stroke center on the North Fork. The provisional status recognizes PBMC’s "dedication to working toward meeting nationally recognized standards in providing care to the most critically injured patients and in having a continuous process in place for monitoring and improving that care," according to a release.

“We’re answering a critical need for emergency services,” said Andrew J. Mitchell, FACHE, President and CEO of Peconic Bay Medical Center. “For far too long, residents of the East End have had to travel too far to receive life-saving medical treatment. Now they will be able to be treated with advanced medical technologies and capabilities in our own community.”

“This will save lives,” added Jean M. Cacciabaudo, MD, FACC, FASNC, Peconic Bay Medical Center’s medical director. “In emergency medicine, every second counts. Having these capabilities right here in Riverhead is critical for the quality of life of the residents on the East End.”

In order to receive a designation as a Level III Trauma Center, a facility must demonstrate the ability to provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, surgery, intensive care and stabilization of injured patients and emergency operations, the release said.

“An important component of a trauma center is to be aware of the leading causes of trauma in the region and work within the community to develop injury prevention outreach programs,” said Mary Jo Stark, trauma program manager.

Capabilities of a Level III trauma center, according to the American Trauma Society, include emergency medicine physicians who provide immediate coverage 24 hours a day and the prompt availability of general surgeons and anesthesiologists; a comprehensive quality assessment program; transfer protocols for patients requiring more comprehensive care at a Level I or Level II trauma center; providing back-up care for rural and community hospitals; continued education of the nursing and allied health personnel or the trauma team, and active prevention and outreach programs for its referring communities

Peconic Bay Medical Center is the eastern Suffolk hub of Northwell Health, New York’s largest health care provider.

Looking ahead, Peconic Bay Medical Center is scheduled to break ground this summer on a new, $60 million critical care tower expansion that will include a comprehensive heart care center, two cardiac cath labs, an electrophysiology lab and an expanded emergency department.

In addition, with SkyHealth Helicopter Emergency Medical Service in place at Peconic Bay Medical Center, patients can access a faster transport option in a critical situation, the release said.

“Our goal is to provide the residents of the East End with world-class health care,” said Mitchell. “That includes providing confidence that they will be well cared for in case of an emergency.”