Stony Brook Partners with Suffolk County Volunteer Firefighters on New Burn Center

As the healthcare environment continues to shift, and large academic medical centers become even more vital to the communities they serve, Stony Brook Medicine has, once again, shown what true community partnership looks like through its latest collaboration: the new Suffolk County Volunteer Firefighters Burn Center.

For nearly 30 years, Stony Brook has been the only hospital in Suffolk County certified by the American Burn Association to treat both adult and pediatric patients — with capabilities to handle the most severe cases in the county. In January, after more than two years of planning and more than six months of renovation, Stony Brook opened an upgraded 7,200-square-foot unit on the hospital’s 8^th floor. This multimillion-dollar expansion has created an outstanding treatment facility and an enhanced environment for patient care.

It is the result of a long and cherished collaboration between Stony Brook Medicine and the Suffolk County volunteer firefighters. Over the years, the firefighters have held fundraisers, petitioned the local government and advocated with Stony Brook Medicine in Albany for increased funding. They also provide burn garments for patients who cannot afford them, purchase important equipment, support special clinical and research initiatives, and aid in community education seminars. Their commitment, coupled with Stony Brook’s specialized expertise, brings the most advanced burn care available to the community.

The specialty burn team is led by board-certified surgical critical care physician, Steven Sandoval, MD. Members include physician specialists, burn nurses, case managers, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, anesthesiologists, child life specialists, plastic surgeons, social workers and other key medical personnel. As a regional center, patients are transported or transferred from community hospitals, accident sites, fires and other locations.

About the new Burn Center:

• Serves approximately 200 adults and children annually, providing treatment for major and minor burns, skin disorders, skin grafts and wound care
• Expanded debridement and bandaging area — key to patient healing
• Six private patient rooms with adjoining bathrooms, plus an additional room available for high patient volumes
• Larger treatment rooms, which allow for minor procedures previously performed in an operating room
• A comfortable healing environment for patients and families: soothing color palette, spacious rooms and large windows with water views
• Superior infection control, including air exchange for isolation units, handwashing initiatives and specially trained housekeepers
• Collaborative education and burn prevention outreach with Suffolk County firefighters

To learn more about the Burn Center, click below on the links to videos of patient stories.

Watch Videos.