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Peconic Bay Medical Center Granted Provisional Status as Level III Trauma Center

Contact:  Lauren Jacobsen
631-548-6827
LJacobsen1@northwell.edu

Advanced emergency services to include resuscitation, emergency surgery, 
intensive care, and stabilization of injured patients.

RIVERHEAD, NY – Peconic Bay Medical Center (PBMC) will begin operating as a Level III Trauma Center after earning 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.   

“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,” said 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.”

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. “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 
  • Active prevention and outreach programs for its referring communities
     

The largest hospital on Long Island’s East End, Peconic Bay Medical Center is the Eastern Suffolk hub of Northwell Health, New York’s largest health care provider. Peconic Bay Medical Center is scheduled to break ground this summer on a new, $60 million Corey Critical Care Pavilion 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 when medical needs arise. This makes Peconic Bay Medical Center unlike any other hospital on the East End.

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

 

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About Peconic Bay Medical Center

Located in Riverhead, NY, Peconic Bay Medical Center is a non-profit hospital committed to providing exceptional care and improving the health of the communities it serves. Peconic Bay Medical Center offers wide-ranging, full-scope services and programs along with state-of-art technology. Peconic Bay Medical Center joined Northwell Health (formerly North Shore-LIJ), in 2016. For more information, visit PBMCHealth.org.

About Northwell Health

Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, with 21 hospitals and over 550 outpatient facilities. We care for more than two million people annually in the metro New York area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 61,000 employees – 15,000+ nurses and nearly 3,400 physicians, including nearly 2,700 dedicated members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the better. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institute. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and the School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. And we offer health insurance through CareConnect. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu.