Division of Emergency Medical Services

ambulances

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division includes approximately 80 paramedics and EMTs who provide critical care transport service from community hospitals to Stony Brook University Hospital. Many of these patients are in need of advanced services not provided by the smaller community hospitals. The division staffs 12 critical care ambulances located at SBUMC and on the east end of Long Island. Approximately 9,000 patients are transported each year.   

In April 2019, in collaboration with the Stony Brook Cerebrovascular and Comprehensive Stroke Center, the Emergency Medical Services Division launched Long Island’s first two mobile stroke unitsAlthough new to Long Island, mobile stroke units have successfully reduced stroke disability and have improved survival rates in other major metropolitan areas across the country.

SBUMC EMS paramedics staff the Suffolk County medevac helicopters located in the east and west portions of the county. The east base is staffed 16 hours a day and the west base is staffed 24 hours a day. The paramedics provide medical care on the Suffolk County Police Department’s four aircraft. Approximately 450 medevac flights are completed each year.

Online medical control for Suffolk County’s volunteer ambulance services is provided by the EMS Division. At least one medical control operator/paramedic is on duty 24 hours a day to facilitate communication with the on duty medical control physician.  The medical control center is located adjacent to the transfer center in the Emergency Department allowing for the rapid exchange of information between the two areas.  Medical control handles approximately 30,000 requests for online medical direction per year.

On weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., SBUMC EMS paramedics staff one first responder vehicle on the east end of Suffolk County. These vehicles assist the volunteer agencies with their daytime response and are a valuable resource to the local communities. The east end first responders answer approximately 1,400 calls each year in conjunction with the volunteer agencies.

SBUMC EMS provides emergency medical education through CME programs provided at local agencies and through a high-tech mobile simulation vehicle called the Simulance. The vehicle was designed specifically for training and is outfitted with audio-visual equipment to facilitate learning in the group environment. Scenario sessions are recorded and played back for critique by the instructors and audience.

The EMS Division is the Difficult Airway Course: EMS™ sponsor for the northeast region of the country. The Difficult Airway Course: EMS™ teaches advanced airway principles and practices that help providers of any skill level become more confident with their airway management decisions. The course is taught by paramedic and physician instructors approximately six times a year at various locations throughout the northeast region.

Monthly Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support courses are organized for clinical staff. Research opportunities are completed in conjunction with the Department of Emergency Medicine’s research staff.

 

Division Leadership

Dr. R. Trevor Marshall: Medical Director and Chief, Division of EMS; EMS Fellowship Director

Eric Niegelberg: Assistant Vice President for Emergency Services

Stephen Slovensky, MBA, EMT-P: Director, Emergency Medical Services

Shawn Edouard, EMT-P:  Assistant Director, Emergency Medical Services

Kevin Pesce: Medical Control Supervisor

Chris DiDonato: Paramedic Supervisor

Ernest Gaiser: Paramedic Supervisor

Jason Hoffman: Paramedic Supervisor

Jamie Langa: Paramedic Supervisor

Nikki Mongiello: Paramedic Supervisor

Edder Peralta: Paramedic Educator/Supervisor

Chris Galloway: Paramedic Educator

Tracy Luckingham: Paramedic Educator