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| Emergency Medicine:
Successfully Responding to Crisis Situations |
Under the leadership of Dr. John Coffey, Bronx-Lebanon’s Emergency Department
has become one of the best and busiest in the New York metropolitan area, with
more than 135,000 patient visits annually. “Our highly experienced physicians,
nurses, and support staff are experts in successfully responding to and treating all
adult and pediatric conditions, as well as mental health problems,” stated Dr. Coffey.
In addition to high patient volume, Bronx-Lebanon’s ER is also experiencing significant
increases in the severity of illnesses treated, including more patients in the
advanced stages of complicated conditions such as heart disease, hypertension,
asthma, and diabetes. These patients often require extensive medical workups,
admission (frequently to the intensive care units or new Short Stay Observation
Unit), and follow-up after discharge. |
“We are proud of our life-saving efforts, successful patient outcomes, and the high quality
emergency care we deliver to our community. We are grateful for the recognition
and trust that our community and EMS have placed in us.”
DR. JOHN COFFEY, CHAIRMAN, EMERGENCY MEDICINE |
Critically ill patients with life-threatening conditions are immediately treated in
Bronx-Lebanon’s state-of-the-art code and trauma rooms. There the staff performs
cardiac monitoring and pacing, defibrillation, intubation and mechanical ventilation,
as well as administers intravenous medications.
Bronx-Lebanon’s 911 designation
as a Stroke Center by the New York State Department of Health is also helping
patients suffering from a possible stroke obtain immediate care in the ER, and
receive the vital medications necessary. In addition, the staff of its dedicated adult
and pediatric asthma rooms are addressing the high incidence of this disease in
the Bronx.
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As a New York State designated Heart Attack Treatment Center, Bronx-Lebanon’s ER
is successfully responding to this most serious problem. “We are using cutting-edge
technology to treat heart attacks by opening blocked coronary arteries,” stated
Dr. Thomas Boyd, Assistant Medical Director, Adult ER. This life-saving treatment
is being performed thanks to the Emergency Department’s close collaboration with
the Department of Medicine.
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Bronx-Lebanon receives ER cases through the Fire Department of New York’s 911
system, and also operates five ambulances, including three basic life support and
two advanced life support vehicles.
These ambulances provide vital assistance to the
community in emergency related situations. “We have a strong working relationship
with the FDNY and NYPD. They depend on us and have total confidence in our ability
to respond to any kind of trauma,” stated Dr. Charles Martinez, Medical Director, EMS.
When patients require admission, the ER team works closely with the medical staff
and the hospital’s support services, including Patient Access and Patient Transportation,
to expedite the process.
A special Emergency Department Inpatient Program
(EDIP) initiative is helping to decompress the overcapacity situations that often
occur in the ER. It provides the continuing medical attention and support needed by
patients awaiting an inpatient bed.
In the pediatric area, Dr. Roy M. Vega, Director of the Pediatric Emergency Department,
and his team are diagnosing and treating all types of conditions in children.
“Families in the Bronx can take comfort in knowing that we will provide their children
with superior pediatric emergency care,” stated Dr. Vega |
For those individuals or families with mental health emergencies,
Bronx-Lebanon’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program
(CPEP) is responding to the challenge. Its staff, including a
special Mobile Crisis team, is stabilizing and resolving emotional
crisis situations.
Once ER patients are treated and discharged, referrals are made
to the hospital’s BronxCare outpatient network for appropriate
medical follow-up.
“As busy as the ER can become, the staff
makes every effort to attend to the individual needs of our patients,” stated Dr. Stacy Nunberg, Associate Medical Director, ER. |
“We do
everything possible to ensure that health care does not end when
a patient leaves the ER, including providing our patients with
scheduled follow-up appointments,” added Dr. Elizabeth Tillem,
Emergency Management Medical Director.
ER patients have available to them state-of-the-art radiology
services, including magnetic resonance imaging, PET, and CT
scans. Consulting physicians from other specialty areas at Bronx-
Lebanon are often called in to provide the most comprehensive
care. Dental emergency services are also available.
Additionally,
the ER is fully computerized, an important benefit in monitoring
and tracking patients through the course of their Emergency
Department stay.
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As a direct result of the continuing demand by the community for
emergency services, Bronx-Lebanon has increased its ER capacity.
A major ER modernization project, including expanded waiting
and treatment areas, was recently completed. |
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