Maimonides approved as Adult, Pediatric Trauma Center

Hospital becomes Brooklyn's only Pediatric Trauma Center

August 1, 2016 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The New York State Department of Health has recognized Maimonides Medical Center as a Pediatric and Adult Trauma Center. Photo courtesy of Maimonides

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Maimonides Medical Center has been approved as a Pediatric and Adult Trauma Center by the New York State Department of Health (DOH), making Maimonides Brooklyn’s only Pediatric Trauma Center. This certifies that Maimonides is equipped to treat life-threatening injuries that result from serious incidents like falls, car accidents and gunshot wounds, across all specialties.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) transports critically injured patients to the nearest trauma center, and research proves that rapid transport can improve outcomes after serious injury. Reducing the amount of time between the traumatic event and the patient receiving the right care is critical.

“The Trauma Center at Maimonides now increases the options available to EMS,” explained Dr. Ronald Simon, director of Trauma Surgery. “If we can provide care more rapidly to those with the most serious injuries, then we are making a potentially life-saving difference.”

This recognition from the DOH follows a period of rigorous planning, recruitment of specialized experts and renovations to accommodate the needs of trauma patients. Significant facility upgrades were made in the ER to accommodate the new trauma program.

“Parents, especially, should be thrilled by this news,” said Dr. John Marshall, chair of Emergency Medicine. “Children are not miniature adults, so it is vitally important that kids get seen by the specialized experts they need when they have suffered a trauma of any kind.”

Pediatric emergency care, now including trauma care, is provided in the fully accredited Pediatric Emergency Room at Maimonides, a division of both Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics.