AHI Presents Littauer’s Third Winner of The Rural Health Champion Award Posted on October 29, 2019October 29, 2019 by Dakota PikeNathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home staff member, Margaret “Maggie” Rowley, care coordination manager, was awarded the prestigious “Rural Health Champion of the Year Award” October 24. The award was presented by Executive Director of Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) and the Fulton Population Health Network (FPN), Nancy Gildersleeve, and Littauer’s Vice President of Population Health and Executive Director of the Nathan Littauer Foundation, Geoff Peck.Executive Director of DSRIP at Adirondack Health Institute, Nancy Gildersleeve (left), Littauer’s Vice President of Population Health and Executive Director of the Nathan Littauer Foundation, Geoff Peck (right), present the Rural Health Champion Award to Care Coordination Manager of Littauer, Maggie Rowley (middle)“I am honored and humbled,” Maggie reflects. “The credit for the award not only goes to me, but to all Nathan Littauer staff. It is a collective effort.”To qualify for the Rural Health Champion of the Year Award, recipients must demonstrate a great amount of dedication and exceptional healthcare service to the community. Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home is proud to have distinguished three Rural Health Champions. Maggie has been an employee of Littauer for nearly three years.“Together as a hospital, we’ve really embraced the needs of the community,” Maggie continues. “My family and friends come to Littauer. It’s very personal, and we want the community to know that we’re here to help. We work very closely with other organizations and providers in the community and our joint efforts are paramount in making a better experience for the patient.”“Maggie has done an outstanding job by leading a team of discharge planners, community navigators, and others to reduce overutilization of the emergency room and hospital services by a challenged population,” says Dr. Frederick Goldberg, Chief Medical Officer of Littauer. “She is highly deserving of this award. These patients are among the most vulnerable that we serve. These patients struggle with navigating the healthcare system to manage their illnesses. Maggie leads by example by actively listening to the struggles and concerns of these patients with sincere empathy. Thanks to Maggie’s leadership and the efforts of her team; utilization of our emergency room by this population has been reduced by over 30 percent over the past two years.”“She has played a crucial role in community-based care navigation and direct patient intervention,” agrees Geoff Peck, Vice President of Population Health and Executive Director of Nathan Littauer’s Foundation. “We’re very proud to have her as part of our staff.”# # # About Nathan LittauerNathan Littauer Hospital and 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 health care that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities they serve. More information can be found by visiting www.nlh.org.
Meeting with Flare Posted on October 28, 2019 by Dakota PikeOctober 10, 2019, Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home invited The Albany Medical Center (AMC) to state and review perinatal quality improvement processes and initiatives. Every year, the auditorium is decorated very lavishly in preparation of AMC’s arrival, as tradition. Deborah “Debbie” Fredriksen, one of Littauer’s Maternity RN’s, had gone above and beyond to make AMC’s site visit more special. She was working the night prior and spent many hours decorating the auditorium the night before the meeting. Employees and Staff of Littauer were in complete awe at how beautifully decorated the auditorium was.“Debbie always does a fantastic job when she decorates,” said Nancy Quinlin, IBCLC, Lactation Consultant. “It is absolutely amazing what she has done. It really adds a touch of home when Albany comes to visit.”“It is generally a very formal meeting,” says Deborah Fredriksen, RN, and Maternity Nurse. “I try to make everyone feel comfortable and right at home.” Maternity’s Debbie Fredriksen with Maureen Mosher.
NLH on a Roll! Posted on October 16, 2019 by Dakota PikeBabies to BenefitGLOVERSVILLE, NY – Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home was recently recognized for the considerable vaccine rate for Hepatitis B vaccines of newborns. The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) included Littauer on their honor roll for a reported coverage rate of over 90 percent from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019.“We educate new parents on the importance of vaccinating their children,” says Krista Sheils, MPH, RN-C, and Assistant Manager of Maternal Child Health. “We all work very hard and we’re glad to provide the best care possible for our babies.”From left: Maternal Child Health Manager, Maureen Mosher, and Assistant Child Health Managers, Krista Sheils, and Amy Smith with honor roll certificate.July 16, 2013, the IAC launched the Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll program. The program helps recognize birthing centers and hospitals that have achieved high coverage rates for administering Hepatitis B vaccines to newborns.The Honor Roll is a key part of IAC’s major initiative urging the nation’s hospitals to Give Birth to the End of Hep B. The initiative urges qualifying healthcare organizations to apply for the Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll online.To be included in the Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll, a birthing institution must have: (1) reported a coverage rate of 90 percent or greater, over a 12-month period, for administering hepatitis B vaccine before hospital discharge to all newborns, including those whose parents refuse vaccination, and (2) implemented specific written policies, procedures, and protocols to protect all newborns from hepatitis B virus infection prior to hospital discharge.Honorees are also awarded an 8.5″ x 11″ color certificate suitable for framing and their acceptance is announced to IAC Express’s approximately 51,000 readers. For any questions regarding vaccinations of newborns, please contact Krista M. Sheils at: (518) 775-4061 or via email: ksheils@nlh.org“This award not only represents how much we care for our babies, but vaccinations put our babies’ best feet forward – even if they’re being carried,” says Cheryl McGrattan, Vice President of Marketing and Communications. XXX About Nathan LittauerNathan Littauer Hospital and 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 health care that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities they serve. More information can be found by visiting www.nlh.org.
Wellness Words October 2019 Posted on October 14, 2019 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Alicia DeRuscio, B.S.Community Education Assistant Planning For End-Of-Life CareAlthough we may not want to think about it, at some point all of us will face end-of-life experiences. These experiences may occur as a result of chronic diseases, old age or even an unexpected medical crisis. However, in order to ensure your wishes for end-of-life care are met at any age, it’s important to plan ahead and be prepared. There are many things to consider when planning ahead, but the main focus should fall on the amount and type of care you’d like to receive.The National Institute on Aging (NIH) discusses several types of emergency treatments used for medical care in times of crisis including:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): If your heart stops beating or your breathing stops, healthcare professionals use CPR to restart the heart and lungs. This requires pushing on the chest with a lot of force, blowing air into the lungs and use of electric shock, also called defibrillation. According to the NIH, CPR can result in broken ribs or collapsed lungs, and is often not successful for fragile, older adults with several chronic conditions. If you decide you do not want CPR as part of your medical care, you must have a DNR or ‘do not resuscitate’ order on your medical file.Ventilator Use (breathing machines): If you are unable to breathe on your own, a ventilator, or breathing machine can be used to push air into your lungs to help you breathe. Breathing machines can be very useful in short-term emergency situations, but may only make the dying process longer for those nearing end-of-life. If you decide you do not want ventilator use as part of your medical care, you must have a DNI or ‘do not intubate’ order on your medical file.Gastric or Nasogastric Tubes (feeding tubes): A feeding tube may be used to provide your body with nutrients if you are unable to eat or drink on your own. A gastric tube is inserted into the stomach while a nasogastric tube is inserted through the nose.Comfort Care: Comfort care, or hospice care, is medical care provided during near-death circumstances in order to relieve pain and suffering.When considering such treatments, it’s important to think about your own personal values. Do you wish to get the most days out of life or would you rather focus on quality of life? It’s also important to take into consideration your overall health. If an emergency was to occur, are you relatively healthy or do you have several physical ailments? If you are getting older, what do you picture as a “good death?” Once you have thought about the type of care you’d like to receive in either emergency or near-death situations, it’s important to write out your wishes in an advanced directive.The National Institute on Aging defines an advanced directive as a legal document that outlines your healthcare preferences and only goes into effect if you are debilitated and unable to speak for yourself. Advanced directives are not set in stone and can be changed at any time.There are two main parts to an advanced directive including a living will and a health care proxy. A living will lets healthcare professionals know your decisions for care and how you wish to be treated in emergency situations. A health care proxy is a legal document that names someone to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself. A healthcare proxy can be anyone, such as a family member or friend, but this person should be aware of your wishes.One way to ensure your family and friends carry out your wishes is to talk to them. Though it may not be an easy topic of discussion, making your wishes known can provide you with peace of mind and take some stress off of your loved ones.If you would like to learn more, attend a special program on ‘Advance Directives’ presented by Rev. Bonnie Orth, Littauer’s Pastoral Care Coordinator on October 23 in Littauer’s Auditorium.You are invited to join us for a buffet-style luncheon at 11:30 for $6 or attend the presentation only at 12 noon at no charge. To attend, call HealthLink Littauer at 518-736-1120 or email healthlink@nlh.org. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
NLH Joins HANYS for Excellence Posted on October 10, 2019October 10, 2019 by Dakota PikeGLOVERSVILLE, NY – Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home has signed The Healthcare Association of New York State’s Commitment to Excellence™ Pledge. The pledge expresses Littauer’s continuing effort to advance patient quality of care inside the community.“Nathan Littauer already provides the highest quality of care to members of the community,” says Cheryl McGrattan, Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “This pledge further demonstrates that we care.”The program is designed to support hospital-specific efforts and an approach that includes education, resources, technical assistance, and overall improvement of healthcare to patients and their health.“We appreciate your willingness to publicly join The Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), in this effort to change the dialogue about healthcare quality in New York state,” says Marie B. Grause, RN, JD, and President of HANYS. “HANYS is your committed partner in quality improvement and we look forward to our continued work together.”XXXAbout Nathan LittauerNathan Littauer Hospital and 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 health care that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities they serve. More information can be found by visiting www.nlh.org.
Littauer Security Uses National Rescue Task Force Program Posted on October 9, 2019October 9, 2019 by Dakota PikeGLOVERSVILLE, NY – Recently, Nathan Littauer Hospital has provided Rescue Task Force (RTF) training for its security staff. Our Rescue Task Force program is focused on working with local law enforcement and first responders to reduce casualties during high-risk emergency situations. This new collaborative approach to emergencies enables our security staff to coordinate with local fire and police departments.LaBuff reviews with Littauer security staff about RTF procedures.Patrick LaBuff, Emergency Management Supervisor of Nathan Littauer, held an in-house RTF training Program, September 8, at Littauer. The training aims to reduce casualties when in an emergency, by providing immediate aid to those in need. As a result, Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home is attempting to assure its patients, staff, and visitors that they will remain safe if a disaster happens.“Thankfully, these situations on a national scale are extremely rare. But, it is important to be prepared,” says LaBuff. “Most importantly, we are keeping everyone as safe as possible by preparing for the worst. Strategic planning for something like this will, without a doubt, mitigate future conflicts and keep our people safe.”The Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services asserts that RTF training is imperative to operating on the safest level in the event of an emergency. With the Rescue Task Force program, individuals are properly trained to get to a patient or victim quicker to save lives.“We have outstanding support from the community,” LaBuff states. “The Gloversville Police Department, the Gloversville Fire Department, Fulton County Emergency Management, and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office are extremely supportive of the Rescue Task Force program training on hospital grounds. To our knowledge, we’re one of the very first hospitals in the country to incorporate RTF training for security staff. Every staff member we train provides an additional resource to further assist local law enforcement and EMS during an emergency.”“In today’s world, preparation and training lead to a much better outcome when it comes to high-risk situations,” says Sheriff Richard C. Giardino. “Nathan Littauer Hospital’s Emergency Management Team has been leading the hospital and its partners in preparation by training and networking with its local law enforcement partners.”“The Rescue Task Force program helps support the public safety initiative,” says Marc Porter, Chief of Police of the Gloversville Police Department. “Providing Littauer’s security staff with training that is consistent with local law enforcement training will allow us the opportunity to work together and achieve a common goal: safety.”Nathan Littauer security staff will offer Rescue Task Force program training four times a year. For more information about the Rescue Task Force program, please visit: https://www.rsqtaskforce.com/rtf-naemt-programs.XXX About Nathan LittauerNathan Littauer Hospital and 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 health care that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities they serve. More information can be found by visiting www.nlh.org.
NLH Going Pink Posted on October 7, 2019October 17, 2019 by Dakota PikeGLOVERSVILLE, NY – This October, Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home is focused on increasing awareness for breast cancer prevention. According to Breastcancer.org, breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women. Roughly one in eight women born in the United States will develop breast cancer in their lives. Studies have also shown that women with dense breasts are more likely to have or develop cancer. However, most women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early.In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Littauer is creating a marketing campaign to move beyond mammogram education and to include conversation about breast density.“With the recent installation of Invenia ABUS 2.0™ at Littauer, it is much easier to detect breast cancer in addition with a regular mammogram,” says Dwayne Eberle, Director of Diagnostic Imaging. “The ABUS 2.0™ has improved breast cancer detection by an estimated 36 percent. I am thrilled that we can now offer ABUS, a leading edge technology, to women with dense breasts. This simple 15 minute procedure will save lives in our community.”“ABUS Ultrasound for dense breasts is our newest example of supporting our patients,” says Priscilla. “With the capability to further test women with dense breasts for abnormalities which can hide in regular Mammography, this can and will save lives. Everyone who has their mammogram with Littauer will receive a special gift from our Diagnostic Imaging department, too. We want to show women that we are here for them and let them know that having their mammograms is vitally important.”“Some organizations and hospitals display pink ribbons for Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” says Cheryl McGrattan, Vice President of Marketing and Communications with Littauer. “We build whole new centers and bring in the best technology to prevent breast cancer. For us at Littauer, we think pink all year long.”Talk to your doctor about breast density, especially if you have a history of breast or ovarian cancer. Your doctor can provide more information about mammograms. For more information about the new Invenia ABUS 2.0, please call Priscilla Person, Littauer’s Diagnostic Imaging Office Coordinator, at: (518) 773-5215 or visit: https://www.gehealthcare.com/products/ultrasound/abus-breast-imaging/invenia-abusXXX About Nathan LittauerNathan Littauer Hospital and 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 health care that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities they serve. More information can be found by visiting www.nlh.org.
