Littauer announces Matt Romell, Goodwill Employee of the Year Posted on February 23, 2017 by Dakota PikeLittauer 2016 Goodwill Award winners: first runner-up, Nora Albertin, left, 2016 Goodwill Employee of the Year, Matt Romell, and second runner-up, Tammy GerdesGLOVERSVILLE, NEW YORK (February 14, 2017) – Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home announces Matthew Romell as the 2016 Goodwill Employee of the Year. Romell is a MIS System Administrator on the main hospital campus. He was presented the award by Littauer President and CEO, Laurence E. Kelly before a gathering of his friends, family, Littauer staff and administrators. Romell has been a Littauer employee for four years this month.“Although only here for a short time, Matt has made a long-term and enjoyable impression at Littauer,” said Kelly. “Matt is a professional team player who treats everyone with courtesy and respect along with a smile and great sense of humor. He always finds the solution.”“I appreciate this, but it’s very easy for me because I work with such a great team,” said Romell.Littauer has almost 1000 employees. Romell was nominated by his peers for this top honor. “Matt meets everyday challenges with a positive attitude,” said Goodwill Committee Chairperson Brenda Hammons. “In the time he has been here, he has made a notable difference with so many technical issues,” Hammons added.In a blind format, the Goodwill Committee narrowed the scope of nominations to three top finalists. First runner-up honors went to Nora Albertin, Human Resource Generalist in Littauer’s Human Resources Department. The second runner-up award went to Tammy Gerdes, Littauer’s Senior Mammography Technologist. Both Albertin and Gerdes received a check and a gift certificate to the hospital’s gift shop.Romell received along with his honor flowers, a cake, gift certificate, check, the coveted year-long prime parking spot, and a plaque on Littauer’s Wall of Fame.About Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing HomeNathan Littauer Hospital and Family of Health Services serves Fulton, Montgomery, and Hamilton counties in upstate New York with a full-service, 74-bed acute care hospital, nine primary care centers, a nursing home and a community education center. The hospital was founded in 1894 and has 1,000 employees. Littauer’s medical staff provides well over 100,000 patient encounters each year. For more information, please visit www.nlh.org.
Nancy Quinlan receives Goodwill Award for 4th-quarter Posted on February 23, 2017 by Dakota PikeGLOVERSVILLE, NEW YORK (February 2, 2017) – Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home honored Nancy Quinlan, RN, IBCLC OSC, with the 2016 fourth-quarter Goodwill Award. Quinlan is a lactation consultant with the Nathan Littauer Hospital Birthing Center. She was presented the award by Littauer President and CEO, Laurence E. Kelly before a gathering of her peers.“Nancy has made a real difference in the short time she has been at Littauer,” said Kelly. “Whoever you are, you will receive the best Nancy has to offer.”Quinlan’s outstanding compassion has been celebrated with hundreds of new mothers.“I am so honored. I love what I do. I feel like I make a difference, and like everyone is an extension of my family,” said Quinlan. “I’m here to stay.”Recipients for the award are nominated by NLH employees, providers or patients and submitted to the Goodwill Committee. They are selected in a blind format.Quinlan received a plaque and a check along with her special honor.About Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing HomeNathan Littauer Hospital and Family of Health Services serves Fulton, Montgomery, and Hamilton counties in upstate New York with a full-service, 74-bed acute care hospital, nine primary care centers, a nursing home and a community education center. The hospital was founded in 1894 and has 1,000 employees. Littauer’s medical staff provides well over 100,000 patient encounters each year. For more information, please visit www.nlh.org.
Wellness Words February 2017 Posted on February 15, 2017 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Carol Tomlinson, RN BSCommunity Health Educator Are You At Risk For Heart Disease?February is National Heart month. According to the National Institutes of Health, every 34 seconds someone in the U.S. suffers a heart attack. Women account for nearly half of all heart attack deaths. Over a lifetime, heart disease kills 5 times as many women as breast cancer.But what is a heart attack, exactly? A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is interrupted, usually due to a blood clot blocking blood flow in a coronary artery, one of the vessels that feeds blood to a part of the heart muscle. This blockage causes the heart muscle to be starved of oxygen and nutrients. When damage to part of the cardiac muscle happens, a heart attack occurs.It is no secret that heart attacks can be fatal. However, every year thousands of Americans survive and go on to enjoy their lives. According to the American Heart Association, knowing your risks for heart disease is the first step in taking control of your heart health. Some risk factors can’t be controlled. However, many can.Risks that cannot be controlled include:Age: As we age our risk of heart attack and stroke increases.Genetics: If anyone in your biologic family has had a heart attack your risk of having one is increased.Gender: Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both genders. Women tend to have their first heart attack 10 years later than men. However, women are twice as likely as men to die within the first few weeks after a heart attack.Risks that can be controlled include:High Blood Pressure: This is a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Blood pressure can be managed with lifestyle changes such as, weight loss, physical activity and healthy diet. Medication may also be needed.Smoking: Smokers are 2-4 times more likely to develop heart disease. However, your risk is cut in half within a year of not smoking.Lack of Physical Activity: People who get regular exercise decrease their risk of heart disease by 35-40%.Being Overweight: If you are overweight, reducing your weight by just 10-20 pounds can significantly reduce your risks.Poor Diet: A diet high in saturated and trans-fats, sugar and sodium (salt) increase your risk for heart disease significantly. Cutting down on processed foods and reading labels to increase your awareness of these ingredients will help you to reduce your risks.Diabetes: This condition doubles your risk of heart disease. Keeping your glucose levels under control and managing your other risks can help to lower your risks of heart disease and stroke.While heart disease remains a leading cause of death and disability, by becoming aware of and managing your risk factors, you can significantly reduce your chances of heart disease.HealthLink Littauer can assist you in managing these risk factors with numerous low-impact exercise classes, monthly health screenings, stress management programs and activities, smoking cessation, nutrition education, and more. Remember, your heart health is in your hands!For more information, contact the American Heart Association at 518-626-8760 or www.heart.org, or call HealthLink Littauer at 736-1120. You can e-mail us at healthlink@nlh.org, see our website at nlh.org, or visit our NEW wellness center at 2 Colonial Court in downtown Johnstown, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
Wellness Words January 2017 Posted on January 16, 2017 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Carol Tomlinson, RN BSCommunity Health Educator Preventing The “Tin Man” EffectThe less you move physically the more you lose in health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Like the tin man in the Wizard of Oz, when inactivity becomes a habit we “rust-up” in a sense, slow down and become less vital.As “older model human beings” like myself, we undoubtedly have either experienced or witnessed the tin man effect that often sneaks up on us as we age. The less we move the harder it is to move, and before we know it “bam” (or rather creak, creak). It becomes harder to get up from a chair or bed or in and out of a car.When the tin man effect happens, an oil can won’t fix the ills of our inertia. Negative consequences of our inactivity may include high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, respiratory conditions, depression and fatigue, among others.The good news is that you don’t need magical instructions or a wizards blessing because it is never too late to “shake off the rust” and return to being active. The following are guidelines for becoming healthier by being active that come from the Academy of Preventive Medicine:Make small activity promises that you can keep … then do them (e.g. I will walk around the block 2X this week or in case of icy sidewalks I will get up and walk around inside with every commercial while I am watching TV).Keep in mind that small activity is always better than no activity!Increase the amount of activity slowly over time.Team up with a friend or family member to support each other and keep moving forward.Keep it feeling fresh by mixing up activities and exploring new options.Balance exercise and other activity with sufficient rest.Be good to yourself and others by praising successes and forgiving mistakes.Don’t give up … you are worth it!As you become more active, you may find you have more energy and that your mood improves. Regular activity will strengthen your bones and muscles and help you to be healthier overall. Whatever you do, don’t give up and hibernate for the winter. Maybe you can get a friend to take a class with you.There are a number of local facilities and groups that offer a variety of classes for all levels of ability and interest such as the Senior Centers and YMCA. HealthLink offers several classes including Tai Chi For Arthritis, Gentle Yoga, Chair Yoga and Gypsy Dancing, as well as snowshoe hikes and winter fun days for the outdoor enthusiasts or one who has “cabin fever.”For more information, call HealthLink Littauer at 736-1120. You can e-mail us at healthlink@nlh.org, see our website at nlh.org, or visit our NEW wellness center at 2 Colonial Court in downtown Johnstown, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
American Renal Associates and Nathan Littauer Hospital announce the opening of the Gloversville Dialysis Center Posted on January 13, 2017 by Dakota PikeLittauer President and CEO Laurence Kelly, left, Dr. Ahman Morgan Dr. Soo Gil Lee, and Dr. Hani ShahataGLOVERSVILLE, NEW YORK (January 12, 2017) – American Renal Associates, a leading national provider of outpatient dialysis services, and Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home are proud to announce the opening of Fulton County’s only dialysis center. The Gloversville Dialysis Center is located adjacent to Littauer, with easy access off Easterly Street on the hospital campus.“Opening this dialysis center is a significant milestone for this community,” said Dr. Soo Gil Lee, medical director and co-owner of the Gloversville Dialysis Clinic. “American Renal Associates has always based its Core Values upon putting patient care first. The opening of the Gloversville Dialysis Center illustrates that ARA will continue to successfully build upon its physician-driven partnerships to bring quality dialysis care to local communities like Fulton County. We are proud to serve dialysis patients on Littauer’s campus, and we look forward to developing strong ties to this community.”The new Gloversville Dialysis Center is a state-of-the-art facility that has the capability to offer patients a variety of treatment modalities including in-center hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) and home hemodialysis. The facility will operate under the direction of Dr. Soo Gil Lee.The new dialysis center in Fulton County is a 7,000 square foot facility with the latest in technology in a comfortable, modern setting. Adirondack photos taken by local photographers are permanently exhibited in the center. There are 12 patient stations and one isolation unit. In addition, there are four in-patient dialysis rooms available at Littauer. The new center will employ 14 additional staff and treat approximately 60 patients when it reaches capacity.“We are fortunate to welcome ARA, a leading dialysis services operator, into our community. They have an extensive track record of delivering quality care and operate over 200 dialysis facilities across the U.S.,” said Littauer President and CEO, Laurence E. Kelly. “The opening of the Gloversville Dialysis Center gives patients in our community an option for high-quality dialysis care in a modern facility staffed with dedicated caregivers. We look forward to seeing ARA and its physician partners grow their presence in this region. As I had said when we broke ground, ‘this is the right relationship at the right time’.”Please call the Gloversville Dialysis Center, Easterly Street, Gloversville at (518) 725-9925 for any further information.About American Renal AssociatesAmerican Renal Associates Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ARA) is a leading provider of outpatient dialysis services in the United States serving over 14,400 patients with end stage renal disease in 25 states and the District of Columbia. ARA operates exclusively through a physician partnership model, in which it partners with approximately 370 local nephrologists to develop, own and operate dialysis clinics. ARA’s Core Values emphasize taking good care of patients, providing physicians with clinical autonomy and operational support, hiring and retaining the best possible staff and providing best practices management services. For more information about American Renal Associates, visit www.americanrenal.com.About Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing HomeNathan Littauer Hospital and Family of Health Services serves Fulton, Montgomery, and Hamilton counties in upstate New York with a full-service, 74-bed acute care hospital, nine primary care centers, a nursing home and a community education center. The hospital was founded in 1894 and has 1,000 employees. Littauer’s medical staff provides well over 100,000 patient encounters each year. For more information, please visit www.nlh.org.
