Praise for Stony Brook Trauma Center as Police Officer is discharged from Hospital

Praise for Stony Brook Trauma Center as Police Officer is discharged from Hospital

James Vosswinkel, MD, Chief, Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, Stony Brook University Hospital shakes hands with Officer Nicholas Guerrero as he enters the ambulance.

Suffolk County Police Officer Nicholas Guerrero is discharged from Stony Brook University Hospital as over a hundred of his fellow officers applaud and cheer him on to his road to recovery.

STONY BROOK, NY, October 17, 2014 – The Suffolk police officer who was critically injured by a hit-and-run driver in Huntington on September 22^nd was discharged from Stony Brook University Hospital today. Officer Nicholas Guerrero, 36, was escorted out of the hospital front lobby with applause from more than one-hundred fellow officers along with physicians, nurses and other medical staff as he made his way into an ambulance that would transport him to a local rehabilitation facility.

“Statistically, he had only a one in three chance of surviving,” said James Vosswinkel, MD, Chief, Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, Stony Brook University Hospital. “We are all ecstatic today at his great recovery. However, throughout this process, if it wasn’t for Nick’s character, his strength and his will as well as the overwhelming support of his immediate family and his extended family of the police department I truly don’t believe any of this could have happened.”

Guerrero, a four-year veteran of the Suffolk County Police, spent weeks in a medically-induced coma after suffering a serious head injury.

“One of our Heroes, Police Officer Nick Guerrero, who suffered life threatening injuries from attempting to stop some of the bad guys out there doing harm in our community, will leave Stony Brook University Hospital today on the road to recovery,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. “Officer Guerrero’s injuries could have been much worse and fatal if it was not for the swift, immediate action from his colleagues, first responders and the outstanding medical team here at Stony Brook University Hospital.”

Stony Brook University Hospital is the only Regional (Level I) Trauma Center for Suffolk County. Stony Brook trauma specialists coordinate the initial evaluation and treatment of all injured patients transported by ambulance or helicopter to Emergency Department. The Stony Brook University trauma program has been recognized as being in the top 4% nationally, and is the top-ranked center in the care of pedestrian trauma.

Officer Guerrero is expected to make a full recovery and there is even hope that he will return to the police force.