Emergency Medicine

Successfully Responding to Crisis Situations

Under the new leadership of Dr. Robert Favelukes, Chairman, Emergency Medicine, the Emergency Department has rebounded in volume post-Covid and is back to being one of the best and busiest in New York. BronxCare’s ER performed valiantly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, providing the highest quality care for its patients and the community. “Our staff banded together, even stronger than ever throughout this pandemic to overcome the challenges of COVID management and continue to fight the virus as well as successfully respond to other medical conditions,” stated Dr. Favelukes.

BronxCare’s ED continues to experience high patient volume as well as significant increases in the severity of illnesses treated, including more patients in the advanced stages of complicated conditions, such as heart disease, hypertension, asthma, sepsis, and diabetes. These patients often require extensive medical attention, transfer to the OR for surgical intervention, or admission. Frequently, such patients require continuing care in the Intensive Care Units or close monitoring in the Observation Area.

Tony Ramgahan, Director, Emergency Nursing, and staff.

The nursing team, led by Tony Ramgahan, Director, Emergency Nursing, is continuing to triage and identify sick patients. Critically ill and life-threatening conditions are immediately treated in BronxCare’s state-of-the-art code and trauma rooms. There, staff performs cardiac monitoring and pacing, defibrillation, intubation, and mechanical ventilation, as well as administers intravenous medications. BronxCare’s 911 designation as a Stroke Center is helping patients suffering from a possible stroke obtain immediate care in the ER and and receive vital medications.

“Patients arriving at our Emergency Department are entering a place of safety, where the best possible care will be provided to them promptly and effectively,”

—Tony Ramgahan, Director, Emergency Nursing

Staff members from the ER's dedicated adult and pediatric asthma areas are also addressing the high incidence of this disease in the Bronx. As a New York State designated heart attack PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) Treatment Center, BronxCare’s ED is successfully responding to this most serious problem. The department utilizes cutting edge technology to treat heart attacks by opening blocked coronary arteries. This lifesaving treatment is being performed by the Emergency Department in close collaboration with the Division of Cardiology.

In the Pediatric area, the ER team treats all types of conditions in children. Families can take comfort in knowing that we are providing their children with superior emergency care. BronxCare receives ED cases through the Fire Department of New York’s 911 system and also operates six ambulances, including four 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 or life-threatening emergency.”

Dr. Charles Martinez, Medical Director, EMS

Dr. Charles Martinez, Medical Director, EMS, in ER ambulance area, with Emergency Medical Technicians.

For those individuals or families with mental health emergencies, BronxCare’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) is responding to the challenge. When necessary, its special Mobile Crisis team is stabilizing and resolving emotional crisis situations directly in the community.

The ED staff also works closely with the hospital’s centralized registration call center to expedite the patient referral process. When ER patients are discharged, appropriate followup plans, including referrals to the hospital’s BronxCare outpatient network, are established.

"As busy as the ER can become, the staff makes every effort to attend to the needs of our patients."

Dr. Stacy Nunberg, Vice Chair, Emergency Medicine

ER patients have available to them the most advanced radiology services, including diagnostic films, sonography, CT scans, and magnetic resonance imaging. Consulting physicians from other specialty areas at BronxCare are also called in when necessary. Additionally, the ER is fully computerized, an important tool in monitoring and tracking patients throughout the course of their Emergency Department stay.

Thanks to the leadership of Dr. John Coffey, former Chairman, Emergency Medicine, BronxCare increased its ED capacity over the last few years to include a new patient care area with eleven stretcher bays, two treatment rooms, and a new work station. This expansion has provided more capacity to care for urgent care and seriously ill patients.

“BronxCare’s Emergency Department will continue to support our community’s medical needs with high quality, patient-centered care by successfully responding to and treating all adult and pediatric conditions, as well as mental health problems.”

—Dr. Robert Favelukes, Chairman, Emergency Medicine

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Successfully Responding to Crisis Situations

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