Suffolk Paramedic Students Participate In 1st Clinical Hospice-Specific Rotation

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — In a groundbreaking new program, Suffolk County Community College paramedic students have begun participating in New York State’s first hospice-specific clinical rotation at the East End Hospice Kanas Center for Hospice Care in Westhampton Beach.

As part of their program training, Suffolk students already complete more than 600 clinical hours in areas that overlap with emergency services, including emergency rooms, labor and delivery, and mental health, officials said.

The new initiative introduces an unprecedented focus on hospice care within paramedic education, officials added.

"Surveys show that emergency services personnel often interact with hospice patients," said Matt Zukosky, EMS and fire programs coordinator and professor at Suffolk County Community College. "Yet students have fewer opportunities to fully understand the specialized needs of this population. This rotation offers hands-on experience alongside experts from the region’s leading hospice provider."

Through the new rotation, students will develop essential end-of-life care skills, including understanding hospice philosophy, managing medication and symptoms, and distinguishing Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) , DNRs, and other directives, hospice representatives said.

The rotation also covers the hospice protocol adopted by the New York State Department of Health in July 2025, preparing EMS students for hospice-specific emergency situations.

More than 100 EMS and fire agencies provide emergency response services to Suffolk County’s nearly 1.5 million residents, hospice representatives said.

"Emergency services personnel are some of our most valued colleagues," Mary Crosby, president and CEO of East End Hospice said. "This rotation will inform people about the important work they do in our communities and increase their comfort level in situations that are not lifesaving. We hope to give students tools and techniques they can employ to support family and loved ones."

Suffolk County Community College’s paramedic program is the only degree-granting program on Long Island, officials said.

"We are thrilled that students from our community will be better prepared to meet the unique needs of hospice patients," Peter C. Halstead, chairman of East End Hospice, said. "This is a groundbreaking concept, and it’s no surprise that two regional leaders in their respective fields are behind the idea."