Rockland EMS Partners with Hospital for Patient Support

When you're rushed to the hospital, having someone in your corner can make all the difference.

Hatzoloh EMS of Rockland County just launched a hospital liaison program with Good Samaritan Hospital that ensures patients transported by their ambulances have dedicated support from arrival through discharge. The volunteer-run initiative bridges the gap between emergency transport and hospital care in a way few medical systems have tried.

Here's how it works: specially trained Hatzoloh volunteers have completed full hospital onboarding, including background checks, privacy training, and institutional protocols. They carry hospital-issued IDs and can move freely through the facility to help patients and families.

Patients get access to a dedicated contact system the moment they arrive. Whether they need help communicating with doctors, have questions about their care, or just need someone to check in on a worried family member, these liaisons are a call away.

The program started in March 2026 and represents months of collaboration between the volunteer ambulance service and the hospital. Both organizations saw the same gap: patients often felt lost or confused once they moved from ambulance care to the busy hospital environment.

The Ripple Effect

This partnership could reshape how emergency medical services think about patient care. Most EMS agencies drop patients at the emergency room door and move on to the next call. By extending support throughout the hospital stay, Hatzoloh is acknowledging that the stress of a medical emergency doesn't end when the ambulance pulls away.

The liaisons don't replace existing hospital services. They work alongside social workers, patient advocates, and nursing staff to create an extra layer of support specifically for patients who arrived by Hatzoloh ambulance.

Officials from both organizations say they plan to expand the program as it grows. More volunteers will be trained, and the system may extend to other hospitals in Rockland County if this pilot succeeds.

For families facing scary medical situations, knowing someone is looking out for them can transform the entire hospital experience from overwhelming to manageable.