“A Pinch of Hope” Posted on December 23, 2020December 23, 2020 by Dakota Pike57 Littauer Employees Receive Pfizer VaccineGLOVERSVILLE, NY – Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home is proud to announce 57 of the healthcare organization’s employees embarked on a trip to be vaccinated today. In accordance with the guidance released from New York State, hospitals have been appointed “hub vaccine locations,” to safely store and distribute the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.To ensure safe social-distancing practices, three coach buses took 57 ecstatic Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home employees to the organization’s hub vaccine location at Mohawk Valley Health System’s Faxton St. Luke’s Campus in Utica, NY. During the trip, many employees wanted to share their sentiments of volunteering for their shot of the COVID-19 vaccine:“It’s moving, to say the least,” says Stephanie Fishel, RN, BSN, and Chief Nursing Officer at Littauer. “For a little over a year, we’ve been combating this deadly virus. Now, we can optimistically look forward. I am very proud of the clinical staff that are here today, getting vaccinated with me. All this time, there has been light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel. We’ve almost reached that light, and this vaccine is going to help us get there.”Three coach buses fill up quickly with Littauer employees outside of the organization’s new Medical Arts Primary Care Center.“We’re all proud to represent the bigger picture here,” says Littauer’s Performance Improvement Specialist Wes McFee. “This is the beginning of a beautiful dream for a COVID-19-free community, nation, and planet. Many of us are humbled and honored to receive this vaccine.”The Pfizer SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 vaccines were just a small portion of what was allocated to Littauer. With the Federal Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of Moderna’s vaccine, Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home is set to receive 1,000 more SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 vaccine in the coming weeks.“Our goal is to safely vaccinate our workforce as quickly and efficiently as possible,” says President and CEO of Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home, Sean Fadale. “We can expect more vaccines for the rest of our employees in the coming weeks, and many are excited to receive it. I am very proud of the employees who volunteered to receive their first dose of the vaccine. They are leading by example.”Additionally, Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home is launching a campaign on vaccination. It is called, “A Pinch of Hope.” The campaign will help educate the public on the safety and effectiveness of the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 vaccines and provide resources for the community.Excited, Littauer employees take a “selfie” on their journey to be vaccinated.To see pictures of Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home staff before and after their vaccinations, or for more information on the “A Pinch of Hope” campaign, visit the Nathan Littauer official Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/NathanLittauerHospital
Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home and 1199SEIU Members Ratify New Contract Posted on November 19, 2020November 19, 2020 by Dakota PikeGLOVERSVILLE, NY – Healthcare workers at Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home in Gloversville, New York, represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement just as communities across the state are facing a surge in COVID-19 cases. On Monday, November 16, the 321 healthcare workers voted overwhelmingly in favor of the contract. The previous contract expired almost two years ago; the new agreement is effective July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023.“We have come to an equitable agreement at a pivotal time,” affirmed Sean Fadale, FACHE, Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home’s President and CEO. “As the holidays approach, I want the community to know they are in good hands at Nathan Littauer. We are excited we reached an agreement so we can continue to focus on the organization’s future. As this contract illustrates, we are a community hospital focused on unity and compassion. We strive to be fair to all employees allowing us to deliver outstanding patient care.”“This agreement proves that the dedicated Nathan Littauer healthcare workers are respected and valued for all that they do,” said Maureen Tomlinson, 1199SEIU Vice President in the Capital Region. “The agreed upon raises and wage increases indicate that we were heard when we said two important things: we need to be able to take care of our own families at the same time we care for others and Nathan Littauer must be able to attract and retain qualified staff. It is clear that when we work together, we can tackle even the most difficult challenges and there are many ahead. Together, we are prepared.”The two sides announced a four-year agreement that provides annual raises across the board to 1199 members, as well as base wage increases in certain job categories, which will help attract new employees. The workers will maintain their health and pension benefits through the 1199SEIU National Benefit Fund, which is one of the most comprehensive joint labor-management funds in the nation.“Especially now, as we face a COVID-19 wave in our community, I am proud of this outcome,” explained Lana E. Wydra, PHR, SHRM-CP and Vice President of Human Resources for Littauer. “This agreement honors our employees, and the organization’s mission. Looking ahead, we are working toward a common goal: a strong workforce coupled with outstanding clinical outcomes to help keep our community safe.”“The hospital has been very successful in treating our neighbors with COVID-19 and will strive to keep our patients and staff safe during the challenging months ahead,” adds Fadale. “We invite our region to join us in that quest, by masking and following safety guidelines.”Littauer employees covered by the 1199 bargaining unit are technical and service employees, including licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, environmental services, nutritional services, lab and pharmacy technicians, diagnostic imaging services, engineering staff and others.“This is a great accomplishment as we continue to care for our community,” said Fadale. He went on to say, “Littauer and its employees can confidently move forward as one workforce.”XXXABOUT 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-¬growing healthcare union in the nation, with over 450,000 nurses and caregivers throughout Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Florida. For more information please visit www.1199seiu.org.ABOUT Nathan Littauer Hospital and 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. For more information, please visit www.nlh.org.
Littauer’s Annual “Tree of Lights” to Take Place Virtually Posted on November 16, 2020November 16, 2020 by Dakota PikeGLOVERSVILLE, NY – Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home’s Auxiliary will host its annual event, “The Tree of Lights Ceremony,” December 1, 2020 at Noon. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the event will virtually take place on the hospital’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NathanLittauerHospitalThe ceremony is held in the memory of, or in honor of a loved one. A listing of those who have been honored and memorialized will be displayed in the hospital lobby in their remembrance. Pictures of the display will be made available online. A light can be purchased by anyone who wishes to commemorate their loss of a loved one, and the tree will remain lit through the month of December.Littauer’s Tree of Lights and list of honored loved ones.To purchase a light, hang an ornament on the Littauer Tree of Lights, or for more information, please call Susan “Sue” McNeil, Director of Volunteer Services at Littauer, at (518) 773-5408.
History and Health Care Posted on October 23, 2020March 5, 2021 by Dakota PikeA New Primary Care Center in Caroga LakeGLOVERSVILLE, NY – Caroga is a town steeped in history. According to the town’s comprehensive plan, the roaring 20s marked an increase of commercial activity, complete with swelling summer populations. After the establishment of the Caroga campgrounds, many developments would take place, further increasing the population of the town.In 1992, the town acquired the old Wheelerville School, which was originally constructed in 1856. Soon after, the town opened: municipal offices, a courtroom, a public meeting space, with a medical clinic for the public. It wasn’t until late 2005, when Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home would lease a portion of the municipal building, would the area finally welcome their first primary care office.Thursday, September 24, 2020, began Caroga Lake’s newest historic milestone.From left: Building architect, Fred Franko; with Hyman Hayes Associates, Vice President of Population Health and Executive Director of the Nathan Littauer Foundation, Geoffrey Peck, former President and CEO of Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home, Laurence E. Kelly, Supervisor of Town of Caroga, Scott Horton, Caroga Lake PCC Coordinator, Betsy Oathout, and Caroga Town Clerk, Linda Gilbert, break ground for the new Caroga Lake Primary Care Center.Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home proudly announced to the Town of Caroga Lake; the construction of a new, modern primary care center. The new center is approximately 1,350 square feet of space, and will be next to Caroga’s Town Hall, where the original primary care center was housed. A groundbreaking ceremony marked the expansion of primary care in Caroga with: the building architect, Fred Franko; with Hyman Hayes Associates, former President and CEO of Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home, Laurence E. Kelly, Vice President of Population Health and Executive Director of the Nathan Littauer Foundation, Geoffrey Peck, and the Supervisor of the Town of Caroga, Scott Horton.“It is exciting to work with Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home in our commitment to the community,” said Horton. “We appreciate Nathan Littauer Hospital and everything they have done for the area. This new Caroga Lake Primary Care Center is a boon, and it shows that the area of our town continues to grow. In turn, so is its need for great healthcare services.” “We continue to expand our services we provide in the Adirondack area, and we look forward to meeting new patients,” says Alison Townsend, Physician Assistant with Nathan Littauer. “We provide an invaluable service to the community members here, and I think our patients are really grateful for that. There’s a lot of history here. I am incredibly impressed with Nathan Littauer’s ability to expand healthcare services, so they are more accessible for people in the region.”
Littauer Announces New President and CEO! Posted on August 17, 2020August 20, 2020 by Dakota PikeGLOVERSVILLE, N.Y. – The Board of Directors of Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home has named Sean M. Fadale, MBA, FACHE, of Hamilton, N.Y., as the organization’s new President and CEO, effective Oct. 5, 2020. Fadale will take on the role held by Littauer’s current President and CEO of nearly 20 years, Laurence E. Kelly, who announced his retirement in early January.An early morning view outside of Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home.Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home Board President Gregory Truckenmiller, Ph.D., made the announcement, saying:I am thrilled to welcome Sean Fadale as the organization’s new President and CEO. We are very fortunate to have someone of Sean’s expertise lead Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home into the future. He brings a wealth of strategic knowledge to Littauer, and a strong sense of financial responsibility, which were two incredibly important criteria in our selection process. The selection committee was impressed by his intelligence and his record of focusing on quality patient care. After meeting with Sean, it became evident that he has a deep appreciation for the organization’s trajectory and mission critical projects. He exhibits compassion for patients with his expertise as a trained healthcare professional. Additionally, he has a successful background in leading a healthcare organization. I am confident Sean will continue to build on the solid foundation of Nathan Littauer Hospital and bring the organization to new levels of success.Since 2012, Fadale has served as the President and CEO of Community Memorial Hospital, a Crouse Health corporate partner located in Hamilton. Community Memorial Hospital was rated the only “five-star hospital” in the state by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2018 for its high patient satisfaction. Additionally, Community Memorial Hospital’s orthopedics program has earned national and state recognition, and its total knee replacement program has earned a five-star rating for 11 consecutive years.With his strategic vision, Fadale planned and successfully executed the transformation of Community Memorial Hospital from a 36-bed acute care hospital to a 25-bed critical access hospital in 2013—2014. To do so, he engaged the New York State Department of Health and the organization’s board of directors, medical staff, and local leaders. This accomplishment added to the overall improvement of Community Memorial Hospital’s financial stability, saving $750,000 annually for the hospital.Fadale shared his enthusiasm about leading the organization:I am delighted with the board’s decision. It will be an honor to lead the organization as the new President and CEO. Thanks to Mr. Kelly’s leadership, Nathan Littauer has a track record of providing safe, high-quality health and wellness services to its community. I will ensure Nathan Littauer Hospital continues to do so. Now more than ever, it is important for hospitals to remain confident and strong during the course of this pandemic. I have no doubt that we have an incredible journey ahead of us, and I am sure that the leadership team, the medical staff and the staff will accomplish many great things together.Sean M. Fadale, MBA, FACHE, of Hamilton, N.Y., Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home’s new President and CEO.In 2007, Fadale was designated as a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a prestigious distinction for those in the field. He was also recognized three times by inclusion on Becker’s Hospital Review’s list of “60 Rural Hospital CEOs to Know.”His prior leadership roles include serving as Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Business Development at Nicholas H. Noyes Memorial Hospital in Dansville, N.Y.; Director of Sports Medicine and Therapy Services for the Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Ill.; and Corporate Director of Rehab Works and Home Healthcare Services at Warren General Hospital in Warren, Penn.Throughout his career, Fadale has focused on enhancing patient care services and improving clinical outcomes by creating partnerships with physicians and practicing strategic financial discipline.His career is rooted in healthcare. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sports medicine from Mercyhurst University, and both his master’s degrees – in physical therapy and business administration – from Gannon University. Beginning his career as a clinician and practicing as a physical therapist and athletic trainer provided him with valuable insights about the demands of balancing patient care, operational priorities, and strategic initiatives.Fadale is involved in several professional and community organizations, serving as an executive board member for the Iroquois Healthcare Association, a member of the Rural Health Council for the American Hospital Association, and a board member of the Partnership for Community Development in Hamilton.The Board of Directors of Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home initiated a comprehensive nationwide search with AMN Healthcare to select its next leader.Kelly, who led Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home to success as an independent hospital, said:After nearly 20 years, I take great pride in this hospital and all we’ve accomplished. We need a leader who will continue to guide this hospital on its path toward sustained success and financial stability, someone with a keen eye toward patient care. It’s clear that Sean leads by example. He knows the advantages and the challenges of working in a small community hospital. I am confident in the board’s decision to appoint Sean as my successor, and I am certain he will do well.In his new role, Fadale will be responsible for facilitating the hospital’s financial, operational, and strategic performance. He will oversee all management staff at Littauer, ensuring the organization’s priorities, goals, and community objectives are achieved.Fadale currently resides in Hamilton with his wife, Stephanie, and their two sons, JT and Colin. He plans on relocating to the area in the coming months.___________________________________________##About Nathan LittauerNathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home is a full-service, 74-bed acute care hospital with an 84-bed skilled nursing home. Since 1894, Nathan Littauer has provided safe, high-quality health and wellness services with a focus on securing appropriate new technologies for people residing in Upstate New York. Over the years, the hospital has expanded its services in order to offer healthcare that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities it serves. More information can be found by visiting www.nlh.org.
Nathan Littauer Releases Annual Report for 2019 to Community Posted on July 8, 2020July 8, 2020 by Dakota PikeGLOVERSVILLE, NY – Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home released their annual report to the community in June. The report was inspired by an earlier question for a Littauer employee newsletter: “Why did you choose a career in health care?”“Instantly, we knew we had to tell their heartwarming stories to our patients,”says Littauer Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Cheryl McGrattan. “We were overwhelmed with what our team had to say and they became the basis for ‘The Spark.’ The report is a means to share their stories, along with the organization’s accomplishments for members of the community to enjoy.” Within the healthcare organization’s annual report for 2019, are a multitude of employee and patient stories. Littauer Marketing Specialist, Sara Schrum, says “It’s a report for the community by the community.”The result is “The Spark” featuring 40 pages of Nathan Littauer’s accomplishments as the organization cares for the community.“As your local hospital for 126 years, we wanted to show the members of our community why we do what we do. The Spark does just that.” McGrattan adds.“The Spark” not only offers information of the hospital’s past, but also provides a sense of where Nathan Littauer’s Hospital & Nursing Home is heading. While many hospitals face volatile economic challenges, the report describes how Littauer has managed to stay on track despite obstacles. What does that mean? Better healthcare service for the patients of Nathan Littauer Hospital.The Spark” also includes a message from the healthcare organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Laurence E. Kelly, as he prepares to retire with nearly 20 years of distinct leadership. The report also includes: important organizational milestones over the past ten years, new medical providers, financial statistics, award recipients, and employees of recognition.The title page of Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home’s annual report, “The Spark”President and CEO of Nathan Littauer, Laurence E. Kelly, explains:“I will leave Littauer with a great sense of pride, knowing that what we’ve accomplished – and will accomplish together is meaningful and will matter to this community for generations to come. You can be assured that we’ll remain committed to the same independent ‘Spark’ that’s kept us successful and in service to you since 1894.”The report is an organic collaboration from the team at Littauer. From volunteers, nurses, and providers; to the administrative level – every employee, patient, and member of the community has made this report possible.“The Spark” has been mailed to many members of the community for them to read at their own leisure. The report has also been made available to read online. You may read “The Spark” by visiting: https://issuu.com/home/published/nlh-annual_report-rev2-color_adj-cmyk-indicia
