GLOVERSVILLE, NY – Last month, 2020, Johnstown Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps INC. (JAVAC) made a $25,000.00 donation to Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home. The donation was made to aid the hospital in our fight against the Coronavirus pandemic. Included with JAVAC’s donation was a letter that stated:

“This donation is to be used towards the purchase of a ventilator and/or supplies needed for the hospital to fight the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic . . . on behalf of JAVAC, thank you and your staff for the support during a very difficult time. We hope this donation will make a difference in the treatment of COVID-19 patients now, and in the future.”

Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home is extremely grateful for all donations given to the organization. Executive Director of the Nathan Littauer Foundation, Geoffrey Peck explains:

“JAVAC’s volunteer and paid staff displayed selfless community commitment for decades. As a chapter of area history closes, JAVAC once again has served our community by helping Littauer fight the COVID-19 virus.”

Donations can be made to Nathan Littauer Hospital by contacting the Nathan Littauer Hospital Foundation Coordinator, Kelly Colby, at: (518) 773-5505. You may also make a contribution online by visiting the organization’s website at: https://www.nlh.org/giving

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About Nathan Littauer

Nathan 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.

Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home received $2,048,000.00 in funding allocated by Health and Human Services (HHS) to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19), through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Signed into law March 27, the legislation is designed to help rural hospitals like Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home.

“Nathan Littauer would like to thank the efforts of the Department of Health and Human Services, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer,” stated Michael Ostrander, Chief Financial Officer for Littauer.  He added, “We are grateful people are looking out for rural hospitals like Littauer. Our response to COVID is encompassing and comprehensive employing a tremendous amount of resources. From a financial perspective, we have done everything we can to support our medical team. We will continue to do so. However, a response to a global pandemic was not a part of our strategic plan. The CARES act gives us a needed injection of capital to continue our fight.”

Littauer believes the CARES Act is an important first step forward. However, we believe more will need to be done to support rural healthcare providers as we deal with the unprecedented challenge of this virus. We have endured unbudgeted healthcare related expenses and some lost revenues from halted elective surgeries. Many of our expenses are not reimbursed and are directly attributable to COVID-19. As we learn more about this virus, we understand we may still see a substantial patient surge of COVID positive patients.

Our goal as an organization is to remain independent while we serve this unique community. Most importantly, this funding will help the patients we gratefully serve. We would like to thank all entities involved with the CARES Act as we do our important work during this pandemic.