Meet Michael our Employee of the YEAR! Posted on May 25, 2012July 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeMichael Nickerson has a “Heart of Gold”Michael Nickerson is our Employee of the Year!Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home recently awarded their Employee of the Year to Mr. Michael Nickerson. Mr. Nickerson is a Licensed Practical Nurse II, (LPN2) at the Nathan Littauer Nursing Home, a position he has held since 2002.Mr. Nickerson’s name was announced during an agency-wide celebration by the Hospital’s President and CEO, Laurence E. Kelly. His coworkers, many who made the nominations, explained he “Has a heart of gold” and he “is an excellent role model”. One employee stated that Michael is “A rare gem that shines brightly”.Mr. Nickerson said thank you to the crowd that had gathered, which included his mother. Mr. Nickerson has explained, “For me this job means everything.” He also added, “I consider everyone I work with family”.“Nathan Littauer Hospital currently has about 980 employees. Therefore, this is definitely a prestigious award.” said Cheryl McGrattan Hospital spokesperson. Adding, “He is a person who seems to genuinely enjoy coming to work every day. And we frequently get compliments about his excellent clinical skills.” Mr. Kelly has described Michael as “Exemplifying the true meaning of caring and compassion.”Michael is a deserving award winner. As Employee of the Year Michael receives gift certificates and preferred parking and his picture will appear on Littauer’s Hall of Fame. The Employee of the Year is a function of the Hospital’s Goodwill Committee a multi-disciplinary team that strives to recognize employees within the hospital who embody Nathan Littauer’s original mission.
Celebrating the Journey Posted on May 11, 2012July 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeNathan Littauer Nursing Home is getting ready for a week long celebration honoring National Nursing Home Week. This year’s theme is “Celebrating the Journey” and is part of the National Nursing Home Week started by The American Health Care Association (AHCA). “We are so proud of the work we do here everyday.” said Leslie Beadle, Vice President and Nursing Home Administrator. “Therefore, we are thrilled to celebrate our nursing home, our wonderful residents and our committed staff.”Nathan Littauer’s Nursing Home will be joining nursing and rehabilitation facilities nationwide, beginning Mother’s Day, May 13, and continuing through May 19, 2012. This year’s theme was selected to honor those who are “Celebrating the Journey” by serving others, thus adding value to life and helping to overcome many of the infirmities of age and disability. “We want to celebrate those people that make a positive contribution every day. We are also saluting our staff.” Explained Rachel Johnson, Littauer’s Recreational Director. She is heading up the festivities at Littauer. She explains, “We have something planned every day to mark the occasion.”For Nursing Home Week, Nathan Littauer is announcing the following activities the week of May 13, 2012:Sunday, May 13- In honor of Mother’s Day Nursing Home staff will be passing out corsages to all the ladies and hosting a Tea at 2:15 with a violin player.Monday, May 14– The Nursing Home will be hosting Jackpot Bingo from 2:15-3:15pm for residents.Tuesday, May 15- The Nursing Home will host a Squish Squash Show at 2:15.Wednesday, May 16- The Nursing Home will host a patio cocktail party at 2:15 pm. The Nursing Home will be throwing a “Cruise Ship Dinner Buffet from 6-8 pm with a band and cocktail attire with entertainment.Thursday, May 17- The Nursing Home will be hosting the “The Ody Show” for the residents from 2:15-3:15 pm. At 6:30 there will be Smore’s by the campfire.Friday, May 13– 6:30 Line dancing demonstration.Saturday, May 14- 10:30 Cruise Games and at 2:15 a baking class will be held.Nathan Littauer Nursing Home is an 84-bed skilled nursing facility providing short and long-term rehabilitation for people of all ages. They are tireless advocates for quality care and services recognizing each person’s individuality. The Nursing Home’s compassionate and caring employees provide essential care to people in our area. Along with a long-term residence, the center has been instrumental in helping hundreds of people return to their homes through careful rehabilitation. The Nursing Home opened in 1972 and has been recognized by the State for their excellence in care. The Nursing Home currently employs approximately 115 people.
Wellness Words May 2012 Posted on May 8, 2012July 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Ryan Wille, B.S.Community Health Educator TICK AWARENESSTicks are small spider like animals that bite to fasten themselves onto the skin and feed on blood. They live in the fur and feathers of many birds and animals. Tick bites occur most often during the early spring to late summer months in areas with high wild animal populations.Most ticks do not carry diseases and most tick bites do not cause serious health problems. Your risk of developing disease is greatly reduced if the tick is removed within 36 hours. However, some tick-borne diseases include:Lyme DiseaseRocky Mountain Spotted FeverTularemiaEhrlichiosisRelapsing FeverColorado Tick FeverBabesiosis Effective prevention and treatment of tick bites is the best way to avoid these diseases. There are several preventative steps that you can take to avoid tick bites. These include:Apply an insect repellent. Use the repellents according to the directions on the label, especially when applying repellent to children.Cover as much of your skin as possible when working or playing in grassy or wooded areas. Wear hats, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants with the legs tucked into your socks. If you think you may have a tick on your clothing, put it in the dryer for 10 to 15 minutes to kill the tick.Wear gloves when you handle animals or work in the woods.Take steps to control ticks on your property. Clearing leaves, brush, tall grasses, woodpiles, and stone fences from around your house and the edges of your yard or garden. Remove plants that attract deer and use barriers to keep deer, and the deer ticks they may carry, out of your yard. Also, check your pets for ticks after they have been outside.Stay away from tick-infested areas. If you have been bitten by a tick, the sooner the tick is removed, the less likely they are to spread disease.Use fine-tipped tweezers to remove the tick. If you don’t have tweezers, put on gloves or cover hands with tissue paper, then use your fingers. Do not handle the tick with bare hands. Grab the tick as close to its mouth as possible, the body will be above the skin. Don’t grab the tick around its bloated belly because you might push infected fluid from the tick into your body. Pull the tick straight out until its mouth lets go of your skin.Don’t try to burn the tick while it is attached to your skin.Put the tick in a sealed container and save it in the freezer for later identification if necessary.Wash the tick bite area with warm water and soap. Wash your hands after removing the tick. Watch for these symptoms after a tick bite and if any occur, contact your healthcare provider:Flu-like symptoms developA rash or sore developsSymptoms of a skin infection developSymptoms become more severe or more frequent For more information, attend a free “Tick” Town Hall Meeting on May 14 at the Holiday Inn in Johnstown at 6:30 p.m. Learn how to keep yourself, your family, and your pets disease-free this season from a health care panel including Dr. Thomas N. Mather Ph.D., the world’s leading tick and Lyme Disease expert from the University of Rhode Island. To attend, call Littauer at 773-5533 or e-mail tick@nlh.org.
Littauer celebrates National Hospital Week Posted on May 8, 2012July 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeNathan Littauer Celebrates Hospital WeekNathan Littauer is more than a place where people go to heal, it is a part of the community that fosters health and represents hope. From providing treatment and comfort to the sick, to welcoming new life into the world, hospitals like Nathan Littauer are central to a healthy and optimistic community. That’s the message Littauer organizers are touting with the 2012 National Hospital Week theme “Making Miracles Happen.” The event theme is the centerpiece of a promotional campaign aimed at uniting health care facilities across the country during the May 6–12 celebration.Littauer is an important part of our community“National Hospital Week, first and foremost, is a celebration of people,” Laurence E. Kelly, Hospital President and CEO said.“We’re extremely proud of each member of our Littauer staff and we recognize the important role they play in extending a sense of trust to our patients and our communities.”The nation’s largest health care event, National Hospital Week dates back to 1921 when it was suggested by a magazine editor who hoped a community wide celebration would alleviate public fears about hospitals. The celebration, launched in Chicago, succeeded in promoting trust and goodwill among members of the public and eventually spread to facilities across the country.A full slate of community activities is planned for 2012, including:“National Hospital Week, first and foremost, is a celebration of people,” Laurence E. Kelly, Hospital President and CEO said.Employees will enjoy Ice Cream Sundaes and can eat lunch while being serenaded by Nate’s Notes led by Pianist Pat Travis-Doull. Employees can Relax with Therapeutic Touch. Employees can enjoy the Annual Hospital Week BBQ served by our management team featuring the sounds of the Gloversville Jazz Band while employees dine. They are offering Massage Therapy and Friday the hospital will host Zumba Demonstration.For more information, call Cheryl McGrattan @ 773-5533.
Nathan Littauer leads a “Tick” Town Hall meeting Posted on April 27, 2012 by Dakota PikeA note from Nathan Littauer: Our region, like many regions, is seeing a tremendous amount of tick activity. Our Emergency Department is seeing tick bites almost on a daily basis and we are bracing for an early and active tick season. We truly want to get the message of Tick Bite Prevention to our community. To do so, we are bringing in the internationally recognized Dr. Thomas Mather, of the University of Rhode Island, Director of the Vector Borne Diseases Department. We will also have a local panel featuring: Fulton County Public Health Director Denise Fredrick, RN, BSN; our Director of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Todd Duthaler and Vetrinarian Dr. Melanie Santspree. Dont miss this FREE and importnat event:Monday, May 14, 20126:30 PM Johnstown Holiday Inn308 North Comrie Avenue, Johnstown, NY 12095RSVP by emailing us at ticks@nlh.org or by calling 518-773-5533.Protect yourself from Ticks- learn how at our Town Hall Meeting May 14, 2012 at 6:30 pm. Free and open to the public. RSVP to Tick@nlh.org or by calling 773-5533
