Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT)

At Stony Brook Medicine, we have a specialized Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT Team) that cares for patients diagnosed with a Pulmonary Embolism. Members of the PERT team include specialists from Pulmonary and Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Interventional Radiology, Vascular Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Hematology and Internal Medicine. This group of specialized providers collaborate to rapidly evaluate and assess the need for advanced treatment plans for pulmonary embolism patients, particularly those with acute PE. Additionally, the PERT team helps provide long-term follow-up care after patients are discharged.

If you are found to have a PE and the additional testing raises concerns, the pulmonary critical care team is alerted and promptly arrive to the bedside to evaluate you.  If after assessment your PE is considered at an intermediate or high risk by the Pulmonary Critical Care team, a PERT alert is activated. The location and severity of your PE will then determine which PERT team specialist will arrive to your bedside next. The following specialists can be called.

If the PERT team determines you are not in any immediate danger, and do not need an advanced intervention, blood thinners are continued to help treat the PE in the hospital and then continued for three to six months after you are discharged. Be sure to take this medication as directed by your provider, do not miss any doses, and do not stop taking your medication unless directed by your healthcare provider.  Follow up with your primary care practitioner within one week of discharge.  You should also be further evaluated in the pulmonary embolism clinic within one month after discharge to make sure your lungs are improving.