Nathan 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.

Nathan Littauer Celebrates Hospital Week

Nathan 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.

A 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, 2012

6:30 PM

Johnstown Holiday Inn

308 North Comrie Avenue, Johnstown, NY 12095

RSVP by emailing us at ticks@nlh.org or by calling 518-773-5533.

Lactation consultant and counselors at Littauer strive to increase breast feeding rates locally

Nancy Quinlan, RN, and Lactation Consultant works with a new breast feeding mother, Nicole VanNostrand and her baby Chloe.

Nathan Littauer Hospital is joining the International Lactation Consultant Association in celebrating IBCLC Day on March 7, 2012. This year’s theme “IBCLCs Make an Impact” highlights how the expertise of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) can make a difference in the health and well being of children and their mothers. Nathan Littauer has one lactation consultant and 4 lactation counselors, more than any other hospital in the region. Nancy Quinlan, RN and IBCLC has been employed at Nathan Littauer for two years. She explains, “I have chosen to be a lactation consultant because I truly believe it makes a lasting impact, from birth and beyond.”

IBCLCs have years of training and continuing study to enable them to inform, assist and support women during pregnancy, early days after birth and as the baby grows including: getting off to a good start with breastfeeding, continuing to breastfeed after returning to work or school, breastfeeding a premature or sick infant, and preventing and managing challenges that might occur. Kelly Hartz, the manager of Nathan Littauer’s Birthing Center explains, “Our Lactation Consultant and counselors are the very definition of supportive. They call patients at home, come in to help struggling mothers on their day off and hold free weigh-ins for nursing moms so that they can monitor their success. It really is a process and our lactation consultants are there every step of the way for our moms.” Nancy agrees noting, “Anything I can do to support a mom, I will.”

“The process to become an IBCLC is very rigorous. For example, Nancy must recertify her credentials every five years and take the entire exam over again every ten years. It is a serious process meant for only those who are very committed to breast feeding support.” states Kelly Hartz. Adding “And Nancy’s expertise and passion will intimately benefit our entire region.”

Nancy Quinlan, a Board Certified Lactation Consultant left and Laureen Steenburg, a licensed practical nurse and lactation counselor work to promote breastfeeding at Littauer.

According to Cathy Carothers, President of the International Lactation Consultant Association, “How an infant is fed can have a lifelong impact on their health. Mother’s milk helps develop a strong immune system that can respond to fight off infections. Nancy Quinlan states, “Breast milk is like liquid gold!” The rising incidence of obesity and diabetes will have a major impact on health, and both these conditions are more likely to develop in children and in mothers when babies are not breastfed. IBCLCs make an impact on the quality of breastfeeding care provided by health services where they are employed and thus an impact for children and mothers.”

There are currently more than 25,000 IBCLCs in 90 countries worldwide who are certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (www.iblce.org) under the direction of the U.S. National Commission for Certifying Agencies. The International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) is the professional association for IBCLCs and other health care professionals who care for breastfeeding families. ILCA’s mission is to advance the profession of lactation consulting worldwide through leadership, advocacy, professional development, and research. Nancy concludes, “I want mothers to know that this is a unique gift they can give their child.”

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For more information about ILCA, visit the website at www.ilca.org For more information about lactation consulting at Nathan Littauer please visit our website at ww.nlh.org

Nathan Littauer credits their smart technology plan over the last five years for its recent technology accomplishment: a CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) incentive. “This is a major milestone and we are thrilled to be one of the first hospitals in the state to reach this level of electronic competency” stated Laurence E. Kelly, Hospital President and CEO. Nathan Littauer is one of only five hospitals to receive an incentive payment. The NY Medicaid EHR Incentive Payment program funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is designed to help defray the costs of installing and using electronic medical records to track, manage and follow their patients. The program was created by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act and offers healthcare providers financial incentives for implementing and demonstrating meaningful use of an EHR system. “Littauer started upgrading our medical records system long before this program came into fruition. It is great to know we built a world-class system.” stated Mr. Kelly. Littauer’s electronic health record system meets a certain federal standard to qualify as technologies that have “meaningful use”. Mr. Kelly added, “We are part of a nationwide effort to modernize healthcare information technology because it is efficient and can control healthcare costs. But in the end it is THE PATIENT who benefits the most.”According to a report issued by the federal government on January 5, 2012 only 5 hospitals in New York have received the monies. “To our knowledge,” stated Mr. Kelly, “we are one of the few hospitals in the region to receive payments.”

Nathan Littauer is an early adopter of technology

Meaningful use is defined by the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) as “The use of certified electronic records in a meaningful manner such as prescribing, the submission of clinical quality measures and the exchange of health information to improve the quality of health care.” It is not an easy journey for any hospital. “Electronic Records Systems are very expensive to purchase and require a tremendous amount of man-hours to transition staff and physicians.” explained Marty Brown, Littauer’s Chief Information Officer. Mr. Brown said, “It is one thing to have the technology, it is quite another to use the technology in a highly pressurized situation like in our Emergency Department.” Mr. Brown reports that all departments are using the technology. The meaningful use payments are helping the hospital to defray the costs associated with adoption of the system.

“Over the last five years Nathan Littauer has invested over 5 million dollars in our technology” Mr. Brown said. Adding, “While this payment helps, it also affirms that we are definitely going in the right direction.” Mr. Brown explains that his staff has spent numerous hours with physicians and providers to make sure they are at ease with the system. “While it was tedious work, we were driven by the fact that our patients ultimately benefit.”

EHR adoption incentives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are offered to physicians, providers, and hospitals until 2015, after which the federal government may levy penalties for failing to adopt electronic health records.

Hospital Spokesperson Cheryl McGrattan is not surprised by the distinction stating, “Nathan Littauer has always been an early adopter of technology, electronic health records included.” Recently, the hospital also hosted a conference for electronic medical record users. “People from all over the country came to learn from our team.” She explained, “It was very gratifying.”

The organization credits its success on a communicative interdisciplinary team which continually strives for seamless patient care. “This is a real testament to the quality of the staff that we have at the hospital.” Mr. Brown concluded, “We strive for a single patient chart throughout our system so our team in the hospital, outpatient care centers, nursing home, and Emergency Department are all working from the same record with the same patient information. That’s really important for assuring quality patient care in a multi-facility healthcare system like ours.”

Slate of medical leaders elected to lead hospital

The physicians at Nathan Littauer Hospital elected Mike McBiles MD, as the new chief of staff of the 74-bed facility. McBiles took over as head of the physician team on Jan. 1, 2012. During his two-year term, he will serve as medical staff liaison to hospital administrative staff and its board of directors. In doing so, he will be playing a key role in directing health care services improvements to the thousands of patients cared for annually at the hospital.

Dr. McBiles elected Chief of Staff

Dr. McBiles said he plans to continue the good work of the previous Chief of Staff, Dr. Paul Perrault. Dr. McBiles said, “One of my top priorities is to improve physician communications.” He added, “I am thrilled to be working with such an outstanding roster of physicians during such a pivotal time for the hospital.” Dr. McBiles noted that he will provide medical staff input into the many expansion and renovation projects under way on the hospital’s campus and in their primary care network.

The following medical personnel were also elected to the following chairs: Vice Chief of Staff ~ Robert Brandis, MD, Secretary/Treasurer ~ Richard Solby, DO, Credentials Chairperson ~ Todd Duthaler, DO; Lab Director ~ Jungeun Lee, MD MD; Chief of OB-GYN ~ Andrew Samach, MD; Chief of Medicine- Shriraj Shah, MD; Chief of Surgery ~ Nicholas Filippone, MD Diagnostic Imaging Director: Mike McBiles, MD and Chief of Pediatrics- Lawrence Horowitz, DO.

In particular, Dr. McBiles has been a member of the medical staff at Nathan Littauer Hospital since 2005 and has held numerous medical staff leadership positions throughout the nation. Most notably he served as the Chief of Radiology for the country’s largest military base, Brooke Army Medical Center. He attended New York Medical College and the United States Military Academy at West Point. He completed an Internal Medicine Residency and Nuclear Medicine Residency at Letterman Army Medical Center, Radiology Residency at Brooke Army Medical Center. He is Board Certified by American Boards of Internal Medicine, Nuclear Medicine and Radiology. “Dr. McBiles’ strong leadership skills and vision make him an excellent choice to be Chief of Staff,” said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Frederick Goldberg. “The hospital and the medical staff will be positioned to work more effectively together with Dr. McBiles serving in this pivotal role,” Dr. Goldberg remarked.

He began his military career as a member of a highly- elite nuclear response team. It was there where he developed a keen respect for the science of nuclear and radiological technologies. He explained that after seeing the devastation of nuclear accidents he wanted to use the same technology to heal people. And “healing” is how many of his co-workers and patients describe him. Vice President of Development Susan Kiernan knows first-hand about his caring demeanor and his medical expertise having been under his care. She explains, “Dr. McBiles is highly approachable and knowledgeable- it is a very wonderful mix of talents.” She added, “Simply put, he is a huge asset to our community.”

In his spare time, Dr. McBiles enjoys music, hiking, gardening, woodworking and church activities.