NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Designated with Provisional Status as a Level II Pediatric Trauma Center
Hospital's Pediatric Emergency Room has begun treating trauma patients under age 15, ensuring that New Yorkers of all ages get the most advanced and timely trauma care possible NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue is the only Level I Adult Trauma Center and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center south of 68th Street
Sep 23, 2019
Rear: Ethan Wiener, MD; Howard Ginsburg, MD; Spiros Frangos, MD; Vincent Palusci, MD
Middle: Jody Litrenta, MD; Sally Jacko, RN; Ee Tay, MD; Jon Farkas, MD
Front: Dennis Heon, MD; Blanca Agosto, RN; Sandra Tomita, MD; Liem Pham, MD
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue today announced that the New York State Department of Health has formally designated the hospital with provisional status as a Level II Pediatric Trauma Center. With the new designation, the hospital’s pediatric emergency room has begun treating trauma patients under age 15, ensuring that New Yorkers of all ages get the most advanced and timely trauma care possible. Prior to this provisional status, pediatric trauma patients were transferred to a nearby hospital for care. NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue is the only Level I Adult Trauma Center and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center south of 68th Street.
“NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue has the resources to provide the most advanced and timely care for New York City’s children,” said Machelle Allen, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals. “This new designation is allowing us to broaden our services within the pediatric subspecialties, complementing NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue’s high quality pediatrics and pediatric intensive care services.”
“Our Level II Pediatric Trauma Center designation is significant because, once stabilized, pediatric trauma patients no longer need to be transferred to another hospital,” said Sandra Tomita, MD, Pediatric Trauma Medical Director at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “Now, pediatric trauma patients are able to receive specialized treatment and take advantage of our expertise in trauma care.”
“A Level II Pediatric Trauma Center requires first and foremost, commitment. NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue has the resources and committed staff to care for injured children,” said Spiros Frangos, MD, Chief of Surgery, and Division Chief of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care.
“Our central location in midtown Manhattan allows patients to be transported quickly, allowing us to get to the most traumatic patients in a timely fashion, as time is life. In the unfortunate event that members of the same family are injured, Bellevue can now treat members of the same family without having to transfer and separate pediatric trauma patients from their parents,” said Blanca Agosto, RN, Pediatric Trauma Program Manager.
Since being designated a provisional pediatric trauma center earlier this year, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue has received and treated more than 50 pediatric trauma patients and is on the way to surpass Level II patient qualifications of treating at least 100 patients annually.
Over the next three years, Dr. Sandra Tomita and Blanca Agosto will spearhead efforts to attain Level II pediatric trauma verification from the American College of Surgeons (ACS). During this time, the Pediatric Trauma Program will continue to treat children with traumatic injuries. NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue will have provision status as a Level II Pediatric Trauma Center for three years, during which it will continue to treat children with traumatic injuries.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue has been a Level I Adult Trauma Center for decades, delivering state-of-the-art, around the clock trauma care.
Trauma, accidental or intentional injuries that require immediate attention are best cared for at trauma centers. Injured pediatric patients require specialized treatment and NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue’s Pediatric Trauma program includes a specially trained multidisciplinary healthcare team of physicians, nurses, social workers, and rehabilitation therapists. This team includes pediatric specialists in surgery, emergency care, anesthesiology, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, and otolaryngology. Services include a dedicated pediatric emergency room, pediatric intensive care unit, and pediatric transport.
Trauma is the leading cause of death between the ages of one and 14 years old nationwide, and results in temporary or permanent disability for millions of infants and children annually.