Stony Brook University Hospital's Emergency Department has been awarded Level One Accreditation for Geriatric Emergency Care by the American College of Emergency Physicians. This recognition makes it one of only two hospitals in Suffolk County to achieve such status.
"Adults aged 65 and older represent one of the largest populations seeking emergency care here on Long Island," stated William A. Wertheim, MD, MBA, executive vice president at Stony Brook Medicine. He added that they are proud of their team's continuous efforts to provide quality geriatric care and promote healthy aging within the community.
Carol Gomes, CEO of Stony Brook University Hospital, noted that "this designation shows Stony Brook Medicine’s commitment to preserving the independence and dignity of seniors on Long Island by providing the latest treatments, comprehensive services and improved patient outcomes."
Hospitals with a Level One Gold accreditation deliver high-quality, person-centered care to older adults through geriatric-specific initiatives related to policies, guidelines, procedures, and staffing.
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey indicates a growing senior citizen population on Long Island. Between 2019 and 2023, an estimated 36.9 percent of households in Suffolk County included someone aged 65 or older—a rise of 3.4 percent compared to the previous five-year period. The median age in Suffolk County is currently 42 years old.
Stony Brook's ED has implemented various policies focusing on age-appropriate care. These include fall assessment protocols, pain management tailored for geriatrics, alternatives to urinary catheters use, access to nutrition around-the-clock for seniors, standardized discharge protocols for age-specific communication needs, and limited use of physical restraints by employing trained companions.
The Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University supports this mission by promoting healthy living opportunities for seniors. In 2023, the Stony Brook Center for Healthy Aging was established to enhance understanding through research into aging biology and psychology. The center aims to improve early interventions so seniors can maintain high quality lives at home while exploring new treatment methods like robotics for elder care on Long Island.