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A trauma room in New York Methodist Hospital, during a trauma response simulation led by Barbara Gatton, M.D., director of quality improvement for NYM's Department of Emergency Medicine.

April has marked a new beginning for emergency services at New York Methodist Hospital (NYM), and for all Brooklynites who may need life-saving care in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead. That is because NYM now receives trauma patients via New York City Emergency Medical Services. This follows the New York State Department of Health's (NYSDOH) designation of New York Methodist as a Trauma Center-a designation only granted to hospitals that are able to provide life-saving care across all emergency scenarios, and that have a continuous process in place for monitoring and improving that care.

"New York Methodist's establishment of a Trauma Center is the result of over a year's worth of preparation," said Bashar Fahoum, M.D., trauma surgeon and medical director of trauma services at the Hospital. "That included renovating our Department of Emergency Medicine's trauma bays, as well as extensive training, trauma simulations and drills for all surgeons, emergency medicine physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and other staff members involved with trauma response."

"New York Methodist's Department of Surgery already offers advanced procedures-both traditional and minimally invasive-across all surgical disciplines, including general surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, vascular surgery, urology, ophthalmology, and cardiothoracic surgery," said Anthony Tortolani, M.D., chairman of surgery and cardiothoracic surgery at the Hospital. "We have specialists in each of these areas who are also trained in trauma response. In recognizing NYM as a trauma center, the NYSDOH has determined that we can provide the highest level of care for the most severely injured patients."

New York Methodist Hospital's ambulance entrance, located on the corner of Seventh Avenue and Seventh Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

"Each year, over 100,000 Brooklynites already receive emergency care at New York Methodist, including those experiencing life-threatening heart attacks and severe strokes," said Joseph Bove, M.D., chairman of emergency medicine at NYM. "The Hospital's trauma team draws on the skills of medical staff members in both the Department of Emergency Medicine and the Department of Surgery, and as a Trauma Center, we now provide comprehensive treatment for patients with every type and every degree of traumatic injury. We're proud to be able to offer our community the best possible care when they need it most."