Suffolk Reporter

Stony Brook University Hospital's Emergency Department has achieved Level One Accreditation for Geriatric Emergency Care from the American College of Emergency Physicians. This recognition places it among only two hospitals in Suffolk County to reach this 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. "We are proud of our team’s persistent efforts to provide high-quality geriatric care and promote healthy aging throughout the community."

Carol Gomes, chief executive officer of Stony Brook University Hospital, emphasized 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 top-tier 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 included someone aged 65 or older in Suffolk County—a rise of 3.4 percent compared to the previous five-year period ending in 2018. The median age in Suffolk County is now 42 years old, which is higher than the national average.

Stony Brook's ED has implemented various policies focusing on age-appropriate care such as fall assessment protocols, pain management tailored for geriatrics, alternatives to urinary catheters use, nutrition access around-the-clock for older adults, standardized discharge protocols addressing communication needs specific to age groups, and limiting physical restraints by using trained companions or sitters.

The Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University supports the mission of enabling seniors to live healthily and fulfill their lives. In 2023, it established the Stony Brook Center for Healthy Aging (CHA) aimed at understanding aging better through research across biology, physiology sociology psychology fields with innovation focus on early interventions so seniors can remain home-based with quality life standards while exploring new treatment methods including potential robot utilization ensuring high-quality senior care on Long Island.