Stony Brook University Hospital Emergency Department Awarded ACEP PACED Gold Accreditation

The Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) Emergency Department has been awarded the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Pain and Addiction Care in the ED (PACED) Gold level accreditation — the highest level of recognition from the organization. SBUH is the only emergency department in New York state to receive this Gold-level distinction.

“Receiving the Gold accreditation — and being the only ED in New York to do so — is an honor and reflects Stony Brook University Hospital’s strong commitment to excellence in pain and addiction care,” said Imoigele (Imo) Aisiku, MD, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM) at Stony Brook University. “We look forward to continuing to build on this success and further enhancing the compassionate care we provide to our community.” 

In addition to recognizing the Emergency Department’s dedication to providing safe and effective pain management, this accreditation also signals that SBUH implements best practices for substance use disorders, sustains effective quality assurance and improvement initiatives, and ensures a safe and caring environment for patients experiencing addiction.

According to ACEP, a Gold Level PACED accreditation recognizes emergency departments with a comprehensive program to provide optimal care for patients suffering from pain and/or addiction through advanced management-specific treatment, protocols, training and resources.

At Stony Brook University Hospital, clinicians in the ED use a multi-modal, non-opioid-first approach to pain management, which includes targeted anti-inflammatories, non-opioid analgesics, localized anesthetics, topical medications and trigger point injections. This approach also includes non-pharmacologic treatments to manage pain, such as physical therapy, heat/cold packs, splinting and proper positioning, and more.

To manage acute, intermittent or chronic pain in the ED, staff have implemented the use of Ultrasound-Guided Regional Nerve Blocks for specific injuries, in addition to other methods 

“We have worked with the Acute Pain Service and our Department of Anesthesia to be able to provide indwelling catheters, which can be initiated in the ED to administer continuous infusions of local anesthesia,” said Bryan English, MD, assistant clinical professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Stony Brook Medicine. “Not only is this approach safer for the patient, but it’s also a superior method of pain control that can last 12 hours or more, reducing complications and allowing for earlier mobilization.”

To address opioid risks reduction interventions for those who are in the ED following an opioid overdose, care goes far beyond immediate medical stabilization. Turning the moment of crisis into a moment of opportunity and recovery, risk reduction interventions include:

• Take-home Naloxone Kits: Any patient treated for an opioid overdose leaves with a take-home naloxone (frequently referred to as Narcan) kit, as well as extensive education on how to recognize an overdose and administer the medication.
• Initiating Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) in the ED: Physicians are able to start patients on buprenorphine, a medication that treats opioid disorder, right in the ED. Starting this treatment immediately stabilizes the patient, eliminates withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and makes them significantly more likely to engage in long-term recovery.
• A “Warm Handoff” to Continued Care: Emergency is typically just the first step, so before the patient leaves the ED, staff facilitate a “warm handoff” by directly connecting them to a community resource, instead of just providing a phone number for them to contact on their own. The ED helps them make a confirmed appointment at a partner treatment facility, and continues with a follow-up process to ensure things are going according to plan.

This Gold accreditation from ACEP reflects a true collaboration among multidisciplinary teams, including our expert board certified emergency medicine physicians, advanced practice providers (APP), toxicologists, addiction medicine specialists, the Division of Geriatric Emergency Medicine, the Division of Emergency and Clinical Ultrasound, and our dedicated nursing staff, social workers, case managers, and substance abuse counselors. By bringing all these specialists together, Stony Brook University Hospital can ensure that every patient receives holistic care that addresses their unique medical, psychological, and social needs.