Hamptons-Based Hospital Recognized As First East End Trauma III Center

Until recently, patients that were critically injured while on the East End were transported to Stony Brook University Hospital or one of the other Suffolk County Trauma Centers to be treated. But, the New York Department of Health recently recognized Southampton Hospital as a provisional Level III adult trauma center, the first on the East End, meaning that the Hospital is now able to provide care to those that are severely wounded.

“The Trauma III designation is a much-needed resource for the East End communities and a significant accomplishment for Southampton Hospital,” explained Fredric Weinbaum, MD, EVP, CMO, COO. “Time is critical when it comes to treating traumatic injury—sometimes it can mean the difference between life and death—and now trauma patients will have faster access to a qualified facility.”

According to the State Department of Health, trauma care is provided to patients at a high risk of dying from multiple and severe injuries. With trauma patients, quickly assessing the situation and efficiently treating them can be the difference between life and death. The Hospital notes that while it is important to have access to local trauma care year-round, it is especially important during the summer months when the East End population expands tremendously.

With its certification, Southampton Hospital joins the NY Trauma System and the Suffolk County Trauma System. Its level III ranking means the Hospital will have 24-hour coverage by emergency medicine doctors, as well as a surgeon accessible within 30 minutes. From 2010 to 2013, Long Island’s Suffolk County received 12 percent of trauma patients within New York State, according to the State Department of Health. Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, Huntington Hospital in Huntington, Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, Brookhaven Memorial Hospital in East Patchogue and Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook are the only other Suffolk County Trauma Centers. And out of the six centers, Stony Brook University Hospital is the sole state-designated Level I trauma center with emergency medical doctors and surgeons on staff 24 hours a day and quick access to specialists. If a patient incurs a tremendously severe trauma, it may be required that the Hospital stabilizes the patient before transferring them to Stony Brook University Hospital.

Southampton Hospital’s trauma team includes Darin G. Wiggins MD, Chair of Emergency Medicine; Sampath Subramaniam MD, Trauma Center Director; and Katrin Diana RN, Trauma Center Coordinator.

For more information, visit www.southamptonhospital.org.