St. Vincent's Dedicates Four New Ambulances
04/16/2008
Contact: Mary Mooney
212-604-2675
New York, NY, March 7, 2008 -St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan dedicated today four new ambulances for service in New York City. The new buses, outfitted with the latest emergency medical equipment, are replacing older vehicles in a 17-bus fleet as they join the long tradition of St. Vincent's pre-hospital care.
The new vehicles feature GPS tracking, allowing the Fire Department of New York City to monitor location at all times, the latest patient stretchers and stair chairs, and roomier cabins for more comfortable transport. Most importantly, the buses are outfitted with cutting-edge portable electronic patient monitors that are compatible with emergency room equipment, allowing for faster transfer of patients to hospital emergency facilities.
'For patients in a medical emergency, every second counts,' said Henry Amoroso, president and CEO of Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers. 'As a Level 1 Trauma Center, St. Vincent's offers patients the best possible care from the moment one of our ambulances is dispatched. Having the latest resources for our emergency responders allows for quicker, more efficient transportation to the hospital that can be critical for patients.'
A Gift of Saving Lives
St. Vincent's is especially grateful to the May Ellen and Gerald Ritter Foundation for a generous donation funding the acquisition of one of the new ambulances. The gift is in memory of three of the foundation's former board members, Sophie Stanovich, Helen Rohan and Emma Daniels, all of whom used St. Vincent's ambulances and services at different times.
Vincent Rohan, President of the May Ellen and Gerald Ritter Foundation, explained that the foundation, which supports programs for the elderly and music programs for children, wanted to support a wonderful cause at landmark institution that has served many generations of residents. 'If the ambulance saves one life, than it is worth every penny spent.'
More Than 100 Years of Pioneering
Pre-Hospital Care
St. Vincent's has a long history of providing New Yorkers
with the latest in pre-hospital care. The hospital was among
the first to provide ambulance service in New York City
in 1870, transporting patients in a horse-drawn buggy
(see photo at right).
-more-
St. Vincent's became the first hospital in the United States to use an automotive ambulance, adopting the electric motor for patient transportation in 1900.
In 1969, St. Vincent's introduced the country's first Mobile Coronary Care Unit, developed by St. Vincent's physician Dr. William Grace.
'St. Vincent's is very grateful to the May Ellen and Gerald Ritter Foundation for their generous contribution of an ambulance for our fleet, helping us in our vital role of serving New York City,' stated Henry Amoroso.
About Saint Vincent's
Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers (Saint Vincent's) is anchored by St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan, an academic medical center located in Greenwich Village and the only emergency room on the Westside of Manhattan from Midtown to Tribeca, St. Vincent's Westchester, a behavioral health hospital in Westchester County, and continuing care services that include two skilled nursing facilities in Brooklyn, another on Staten Island, a hospice, and a home health agency serving the Metropolitan New York area. Its behavioral health services also provide supportive housing programs for people with mental illness throughout the Metropolitan area. Saint Vincent's is the designated provider for the New York and New Jersey region of the US Family Health Plan sponsored by the US Department of Defense.
Saint Vincent's serves as the academic medical center of New York Medical College in New York City. The healthcare organization is sponsored by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Brooklyn and the president of the Sisters of Charity of New York.
