Peer-to-peer medical information technology meeting

Date: Thursday, February 2, 2012

Place: Nathan Littauer Hospital

Nathan Littauer has been chosen to host and teach at a gathering of national medical technologists at an upcoming MUSE International event. Littauer staff will be addressing pertinent issues affecting both clinical and financial operations relating to Medical Information Technology. Electronic medical records and MEDITECH is the standard most hospitals use in their medical information systems and it is used in health care organizations throughout the world. This enables health care providers to track a patient’s history and/or monitor ongoing treatment of chronic health problems. Providers are afforded immediate access to patients’ medical records, which can be used to devise treatments. Moshgan Jones, an International Board Member of MUSE International and Littauer’s Senior Clinical Analyst states, “Meetings like this allow us to exchange information and ideas from peers from around the nation.” She added, “It is all about better patient care.”

The presentations at Littauer will feature a unique ‘hands-on’ experience that begins by registering a test patient and then following it through the multiple steps and how interdepartmental communications have been solved. Alicia Roberts, Director of Education and Marketing at MUSE explains, “We’re so thrilled that Nathan Littauer is hosting this unique event. It provides a wonderful opportunity for our members to interact and share tips, tricks and experiences with one another. As healthcare IT improvement has become a top priority during the last few years, it’s even more valuable to be able to provide this program.”

Two tracks are being offered. Track One will be Healthcare Trends and the Revenue Cycle and the second will address The Fully Integrated EMR (Electronic Medical Record). The session will also include roundtable discussions. Facilitated by Littauer’s staff Ron Kilmer, Patient Services Manager and Moshgan Jones, Senior Clinical Analyst Nathan Littauer presenters will include:

• Dr. Todd Duthaler, Chief of Emergency Medicine
• Robert Stankes, Chief Pharmacist
• Diane Graudons, MIS MEDITECH support of financial
• Stacey Palmer, Registration manager, ADM & SCH
• Judy Cetnar, Manager HIM, ABS
• Gus Sacerio, Manager PFS, BAR
• Martin Brown, Chief Information Officer
• Tara Kean, Director Blood Bank
• Georgeanna Dubois, Clinical Application Coordinator

The organization presenting the conference is the Medical Users Software Exchange (MUSE). The group is a community of MEDITECH users and related professionals who interact to learn and share their knowledge and experience. Through MUSE, members network, solve problems, identify best practices, and improve performance for their organizations. They endeavor to be the leading source of networking and education for professionals using the MEDITECH system. In 1983, a small group of users met to discuss issues related to their MEDITECH healthcare information system. The meeting was productive and it was determined that the creation of a user group, – and regular meetings – would be beneficial. So began the Medical Users Software Exchange, or MUSE. Now with hundreds of hospitals worldwide, MUSE is growing.

xxx

Nathan Littauer announced today that Baby Janessa Rose Richards was the first baby born at Nathan Littauer Hospital in the New Year. Mother Miranda Cooper welcomed little Janessa on January 5, 2012 at 4:56pm. She weighed 8 pounds 6 ounces and was 20 inches from head to toe. Dr. Samach delivered baby Janessa. This is Miranda’s first child.

Littauer welcomed the first baby of 2012 today. The Auxiliary presented mom with a huge gift basket to mark the occasion.

Littauer’s Auxiliary presented the mother with a huge basket, adorned with baby gifts- from handmade blankets to gift certificates. “The Auxiliary puts a tremendous amount of thought into the Baby New Year Basket. Co-Chairs Anita Moore and Anita Beck love doing this project and they even include a special gift for Mom, too. What the mother leaves with is really a gift of the heart while being extremely practical as well.” stated Sue McNeil, Director of Volunteer Services at Nathan Littauer.

Both Mom and baby are resting comfortably at the Birthing Center.

xxx

Caption for photo:

The Auxiliary presents Littauer’s New Years Baby with a basket. From left to right: Anita Moore, Jeanne Wilkinson, and Susan McNeil Director of Volunteer Services, Grace Naselli, Anita Beck and Patty Franco. Mother Miranda Richards hold baby Janessa.

Doctors across New York will award Nathan Littauer Hospital $100,000

Gloversville, NY… State Health Commissioner Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H., recently announced that Nathan Littauer Hospital is one of five health care providers in New York State to be awarded a grant of $100,000 over two years to support physicians who practice medicine in underserved communities through the “Doctors Across New York” Program. “We appreciate the Doctors Across New York Program as we continue our quest to bring qualified specialists to the residents in our area.” stated Laurence E. Kelly Littauer’s President and CEO adding, “The program is essential for areas like Fulton County.”

The hospital added urologist Dr. Paul Husson to their rolls in August of last year. As one of the only Urologists in the region he is already very busy. The Doctors Across New York Program is a critical program to help ensure that New Yorkers in every community in the State have access to high-quality health care services,” Commissioner Shah said in a release. “These grants will help these institutions increase access to vital health care services in rural and urban areas.”

The Doctors Across New York Program awards funding to support recruitment and retention of physicians in underserved areas. Physicians participating in Doctors Across New York make a multi-year service commitment to practice in an underserved area in the State.

Doctors Across New York is a state-funded initiative enacted in 2008 to help train and place physicians in underserved communities in a variety of settings and specialties to care for New York’s diverse population. According to the NYSDOH, it is estimated that 25 percent of New Yorkers live in medically-underserved areas, and many communities lack physicians who can provide specialty medicine in areas such as Urology.

Nathan Littauer Hospital states that they are planning on conducting outreach activities for Dr. Husson so that people who are suffering with Urology issues can get the answers and treatment they need. “Many people are silent about urology issues -allowing it to deeply impact their quality of life. We want to change that.” stated Cheryl Mcgrattan Hospital Spokesperson.

“We are devotees of preventative medicine used in conjunction with medical specialties. Therefore, this was a great holiday gift.” stated Mr. Kelly.

Nathan Littauer Hospital played an important role in the 2012 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. As a hospital that participates in the Center for Donation & Transplant’s “Flags Across America” program, Nathan Littauer Hospital had a rose with a hand tied ribbon displaying our name in the Memorial Rose Garden on the Donate Life float entitled “…One More Day.” The rose is symbolic of all of the organ and tissue donors that have given or enhanced the lives of countless individuals. The Center for Donation & Transplant would like to thank Nathan Littauer Hospital for thier continued support as we continue to try to end the wait for lifesaving organs and transplants in the U.S.

For more information about the Center for Donation & Transplant, please visit www.cdtny.org. For more information about the Donate Life Float, please visit www.donatelifefloat.org.

After a small smoke event at the hospital our Safety Officer reflects on why Littauer’s response was so exemplary

Joe Slovack answers our questions about Fire Safety

After a Code Red at Nathan Littauer Hospital on December 29, 2011 we sat down with Nathan Littauer’s own Joe Slovack to shed some light on how Nathan Littauer readies for emergencies. Here are a few questions we asked Joe Slovack:

Q: What is your title at Nathan Littauer Hospital?

A: I am the Safety Officer at Nathan Littauer Hospital.

Q: How long have you been employed at Nathan Littauer Hospital?

A: 30 years.

Q: What happened yesterday at Nathan Littauer Hospital?

A: A Code Red (fire) occurred on the 2nd floor of the Hospital at 1PM on 12/29/11. The fire was caused by construction activities that were taking place on the roof at that time. This was a small event that was mostly smoke-related but we did move patients away from the effected areas. Our staff responded quickly and efficiently by closing off areas, pulling alarms, alerting staff, and ultimately moving patients away from the smoke. No patients, staff or firefighters were injured as it was a relatively small event. Everyone did their part and many areas of the hospital were fully operational during the event.

Q: The fire department arrived?

A: Yes, the fire department responded quickly. And thanks to the fast acting staff in the pediatric unit and engineering and housekeeping departments, everything was mostly over by the time they arrived here. The fire department was extremely professional and excellent in their response. The Fire Department issued an ‘all-clear’ in about 40 minutes.

Q: Does this type of thing happen often?

A: Fortunately no.

Q: The fire department was very quick to compliment Nathan Littauer staff about their response. In fact, Beth Whitman-Putnam, Fire Chief of the City of Gloversville Fire Department stated “The Staff of Nathan Littauer Hospital performed an exemplary job of evacuating and isolating the area of alarm in advance of the Fire Department’s arrival.”

A: It was certainly a proud moment for the Hospital to be recognized as doing a good job reacting to an incident like this by fire personnel who do this professionally. That they were impressed with our performance says a lot about the abilities of our staff.

Q: What do you have to do with the response?

A: As the Safety Officer I help train all the employees at Nathan Littauer Hospital in fire safety procedures. Hospital employees receive a tremendous amount of fire and disaster response training: New hospital employees receive fire response training as part of their orientation; All staff wear badges at all times that display fire response instructions on the back; We also have completed one-on-one training with staff in different departments; And additionally, all staff must pass written tests about fire safety yearly. And then of course we have fire drills.

All Littauer staff wear fire safety tips on their badges

Q: How often do you have drills?

A: Once a month, one shift per quarter. In fact, we had an evacuation fire drill in June of this year that was performed in conjunction with the fire department and the activities were very similar to yesterday’s events.

Q: Why do you think this “event went so well” given the circumstances?

A: As a whole, our staff has many years experience doing what they do. And the practice, skills and knowledge they have gives them the confidence and ability to respond calmly to an emergency situation.

Q: So I guess its back to usual at Littauer?

A: Actually no. We conduct a Post-plan Activation Feedback Request with all managers after every emergency event. It’s a global survey used to review any effects an incident had in each work area. Managers get input from their staff as to what went well, or what could be improved. The responses come back to me and the results are used to assess our overall staff response and preparation, building operation, and the effectiveness of our policies related to the event. That way we can continue to improve our preparedness based on actual hand-on experience. And earning praise from the fire department like we did in this incident proves that it works.

Thanks Joe Slovack Safety Officer!

XXX

SHOPPING LOCAL? DON’T FORGET ABOUT NATHAN LITTAUER

Gifts for the holiday season

Consider Littauer for your gift giving.

Gloversville, NY…Nathan Littauer Hospital is reminding people who want to “shop locally” to consider Nathan Littauer Hospital for their last- minute holiday shopping. Besides providing excellent health care services, the hospital is also a shopping and eating destination. “The hospital gift shop, run by our Auxilians is a perfect place to shop!” explained Susan McNeil Director of Volunteer Services for the hospital. “Our Auxilians Ann Adore, Chairman, Dianne James, Assistant Chairman, and Stacey White, Schedule Chairman have done an outstanding job with our hospital gift shop this year.” Sue McNeil stated, “Ann Adore would love you to see the wonderful variety of gifts, cards, toys, infant clothing, jewelry and candy.” The hospital also carries holiday flower arrangements.

Terry A. Swierzowski, Interim President, Director of Tourism & Communications Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry agrees noting, “They have an excellent selection of jewelry and other gifts. I personally shop there.” “I think our gift shop is the best kept secret in the region” stated Susan Kiernan Vice President of Development at Nathan Littauer Hospital. “When I get a compliment on a handbag or a piece of jewelry people always seem surprised when I tell them where I got it.”

The gift shop hours are Monday through Friday 10am to 4pm and on weekends from 11am to 3pm. Questions about hours can be directed to 773-5408. Sample photos of the inventory at the gift shop can be found on the hopsital FaceBook site. The shop is offering 30% of all Christmas-related items.

The hospital Nutritional Services team is also selling holiday pies. “For $8.99 people can get a high-rise Dutch apple, blueberry, chocolate cream or lemon meringue pie.” stated Tim Forte, Nutrition Services Director. They are also selling holiday cookie assortments for $4.99. Orders must be made by Wednesday, December 21, for pick-up Thursday or Friday. People interested in ordering a pie can call 773-5415 or they can stop by Nate‘s Place (the cafeteria) and fill out an order form with the cashier.

“The gift shop at Littauer is a find!”

Ms. Kiernan advises “Visit a friend in the hospital or nursing home, stay for lunch or dinner and pick up a gift WITH free gift wrapping, and bring home a pie for your holiday meal -all the while avoiding holiday crowds.” She added, “We always have secure parking and all our proceeds go to the hospital. It does not get more local than that.” XXX Caption for photo: Holiday gifts abound at Nathan Littauer Hospital.