In Riverhead, expanded emergency department set to open

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An expanded emergency department in Riverhead is set to open this summer.

That’s when the Peconic Bay Medical Center anticipates accepting patients at its Poole Family Trauma & Emergency Center, the first installment of a $92 million investment. A ribbon-cutting for the opening of the department has been planned for May 23.

“A lot of work has gone into getting to this stage since announcing our expansion plans in June [of 2023], and we are excited to announce the nearing completion of the Poole Family Trauma & Emergency Center,” Amy Loeb, PBMC’s executive director, said in a written statement. “The expanded ED will enable us to continue delivering exceptional emergency care, ensuring that our patients receive the timely and comprehensive treatment they deserve. We are excited to start welcoming patients this summer.”

The expanded emergency department will add patient beds, and is designed to offer a more effective intake process and increase space for privacy. It will feature a dual bay trauma unit, comprehensive radiology capabilities, and connectivity to Northwell’s Electronic Intensive Care Unit system and telemedicine. In addition, the expansion will enable PBMC to create two separate areas with a dedicated team of healthcare professionals so that patients with life-threatening conditions and those with less serious conditions can be treated simultaneously and efficiently.

The expansion comes at a time when the local population has grown, and the medical center said it is providing access to care to more than 250,000 eastern Suffolk residents. According to the center, it is seeing twice as many patients as it was originally designed to serve. Demand for critical care, including for patients with strokes, heart attacks and other traumas, has grown over time.

The medical center became part of the Northwell Health system in 2016, and now features the Kanas Regional Heart Center, Corey Critical Care Pavilion, Level III Trauma Center.