The state has contracted with the Center for Gun Violence Prevention team at Northwell Health to begin a pilot program that screens for firearm access and risk in ER settings. — ALBANY | Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced the launch of a first-in-the-nation pilot program to integrate firearm access and injury risk screening into emergency department visits, a proactive approach designed to prevent violence before it occurs. A $1.5 million investment from the New York State Office of Gun Violence Prevention will expand the Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention (FIMP) initiative created by Northwell Health’s Center for Gun Violence Prevention, to Buffalo, Rochester and the Bronx, equipping health care providers with tools to assess firearm injury risk and connect patients with safety resources and interventions. The Governor also highlighted the State’s ongoing efforts to promote safe firearm storage through a statewide gun lock initiative.
“New York is leading the way with proactive, commonsense strategies to prevent gun violence and save lives,” Gov. Hochul said. “This pilot gives health care providers new tools to identify risk and connect people with support, while our gun lock initiative is helping families safely store firearms and protect their loved ones.”
The $1.5 million will allow Northwell Health’s Center for Gun Violence Prevention to provide training, technical assistance, coordination and support to the three participating providers: Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, and SBH Health System in the Bronx…