Annual Tree of Lights program kicks off with a special reason for the season

Annual Tree of Lights program kicks off with a special reason for the season

GLOVERSVILLE – The Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home Auxiliary annual Tree of Lights program was held Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015 before a gathering of over 110 people in the Littauer Hospital lobby. Auxialian Rosanne Manuele, program co-chairman opened the ceremony saying, “This is a very special night and it means many different things to many people.”

Littauer President and CEO Laurence Kelly added, “There is a reason we are all here this evening as we remember someone special. Everyone here has a story that goes with a light on the tree.”

Auxialian and program co-chairman Donna Ellithorpe read a poem she composed for the evening and said, “Each of our loved ones is remembered with a light. It really touches our hearts.”

Susan McNeil, Volunteer Director said, “The Auxiliary plans the evening, and in coordination with various Littauer departments, we bring this all together.” McNeil went on to say, “It’s a team effort all the way, and that’s what makes this night so beautiful.”

Each guest was given a keepsake, 2015 dated ornament on behalf of the Auxiliary.

Auxilians Barb Tucci and family decorated the Tree. The Pastoral Care Coordinator at Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home led the Blessing.

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Hospital plans new primary care location along Thruway to serve residents — and truckers

Here’s a story from the Albany Business Review…

The community hospital in Gloversville is looking to open its 10th outpatient location, Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home CEO Laurence E. Kelly said.
The hospital is seeking state approval to build a $2.2 million extension clinic in Fonda, a small village about 15 minutes west of Amsterdam. There is a lack of health care services in the area and Montgomery County has a poverty rate for children of about 23 percent, Kelly said.
“We looked at Fonda as a place that’s underserved that has a lot of health care need, so we thought this would be a great place to meet that community need,” Kelly said.
Hospitals are working to get services closer to patients as government payers push for care in lower cost settings.
Kelly also said the location would be ideal to provide services for truckers traveling along the Thruway or going northward to a distribution center in Johnstown. About 800 trucks each day will drive by the location on Main Street in Fonda, he said.
Kelly said he’s planning to create an app so truck drivers could set up an appointment ahead of time for a check-up or an acute problem.
“These guys and women don’t get good health care because they’re on the road a lot,” Kelly said.
The clinic would be fairly close to St. Mary’s Healthcare in Amsterdam, which is a larger system providing services in Fulton and Montgomery counties that Nathan Littauer competes with. St. Mary’s has 130 beds and opened a new $17 million outpatient pavilion last month.
While Kelly said the clinic would likely see a high volume of Medicaid patients, he said the hospital would have adult services, radiology and an obstetrician there. Referrals for testing, deliveries of babies and other services to the hospital would also drive revenue from the location.
“We don’t think we’re going to lose money, we think we can break even or do a little better,” Kelly said.
Kelly said the plan for a clinic is exploratory pending state approval. He said current plans call for a 5,400 square foot building with 30 parking spaces and that the land at 46-50 Main St. in Fonda is under contract for the hospital to purchase.
The clinic would be staffed with 13 new full time employees, including two new doctors, Kelly said.

Littauer announces Linda Fleming as third-quarter Goodwill employee

GLOVERSVILLE – Littauer recently announced the 2015 third-quarter Goodwill Employee. Johnstown Decker Drive Primary/Specialty Care Center Office Coordinator Linda Fleming is the recipient.

Littauer President and CEO Laurence E. Kelly said, “It takes all 1000 employees to do what we do, and it starts with the trusting relationships we establish as soon as our patients call or enter our facilities. They know they can trust us with small matters, and if the time ever comes, we have their trust in life’s bigger concerns.”

Fleming is a 37-year Littauer employee. She has worked in several departments, but has been the office coordinator at the Decker Drive Primary/Specialty Care Center since 1995. In that role she has had contact with countless patients and co-workers.

According to Kelly, Fleming has proven to be an exemplary employee. Co-workers nominated her for her dedication, kindness, caring smile, and knowledge.

“She is the first to lend a helping hand to needy families, donating money, clothes and even food,” added Kelly.

“I am truly honored,” said Fleming. “And it only took 37 years to get it,” she laughed.

Recipients for the award are nominated by NLH employees, providers or patients and submitted to the Goodwill Committee. In a blind format they are selected.

Fleming received a plaque and a check along with her special honor.

Littauer Goodwill Award winner: Johnstown Decker Drive Primary/Specialty Care Center Office Coordinator, Linda Fleming

Littauer Goodwill Award winner: Johnstown Decker Drive Primary/Specialty Care Center Office Coordinator, Linda Fleming

Gloversville Lions Club donates to Littauer

GLOVERSVILLE – The Gloversville Lions Club donated two park benches to Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home. A formal presentation was made Thursday, Sept. 24, to Littauer President and CEO Laurence Kelly, and Littauer Foundation Executive Director Geoffrey Peck on the hospital’s walking track. Gloversville Lions Club President David J. Miller and Vice President Linda Rhinehart represented the organization. The Gloversville Lions Club supports many projects in the community. Two other benches are being donated to the City of Gloversville. The benches were purchased locally from Runnings.

Littauer President and CEO Laurence Kelly, Gloversville Lions Club VP Linda Rhinehart, Gloversville Lions Club President David J. Miller and Littauer Foundation Executive Director Geoffrey Peck on the Littauer walking track with donation

Littauer President and CEO Laurence Kelly, Gloversville Lions Club VP Linda Rhinehart, Gloversville Lions Club President David J. Miller and Littauer Foundation Executive Director Geoffrey Peck on the Littauer walking track with donation

NATHAN LITTAUER HOSPITAL PROJECTS AWARDED STATE SUPPORT THROUGH MOHAWK VALLEY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

GLOVERSVILLE, N.Y. – Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home’s goal of delivering dialysis care and expanding their primary care footprint is getting closer to becoming a reality. On Dec. 10, when Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the 2015 Regional Economic Development Council Awards, several important projects for Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home (NLH) were awarded critical support from New York State. The hospital is slated to receive $740,000 from Empire State Development (ESD) to expand its primary care services and to contribute towards the cost of building a dialysis care facility. The funds will help offset the significant investment the hospital is making to bring the projects to fruition.

The hospital submitted Consolidated Funding Applications (CFA) to the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council and ESD earlier this year with two goals in mind: to expand primary care and to provide comprehensive renal health care at Nathan Littauer’s Hospital campus. In addition to the dialysis center, two applications were submitted in response to the burgeoning demand for Littauer’s primary care.

Laurence E. Kelly, Nathan Littauer’s CEO and President stated, “Primary care is vital to our population health goals. We have a hugely successful primary care practice spanning almost 50 miles. It is a formula we would like to replicate for underserved communities.” One such goal is to build a new Primary and Specialty Care Center in the village of Fonda.

“The Certificate of Need for our Fonda project was approved on Dec. 12,” explained Kelly. He added, “We had a lot of good news this month.”

The renal dialysis care center, when completed, will provide critical access to dialysis care in Fulton, Montgomery and Hamilton counties and the surrounding rural communities. “With the prevalence of kidney disease in our area the center will fill an important need,” said Kelly.

Geoff Peck, Vice President and Executive Director of the Nathan Littauer Foundation stated, “Traveling long distances to receive primary care and in particular, dialysis care is not only a financial burden it is also an emotional and physical burden on our patients and their families. Kidney failure disproportionally afflicts minorities and the disposed.” He concluded, “So this project is wonderful for the community because it will drastically improve the quality of life of our neighbors.”

In August, Littauer announced a relationship with a national provider of outpatient dialysis services and nephrology care and two local physicians Hani Shahata, M.D. and Soo Gil Lee, M.D. The new center will be one of the few dialysis centers with direct access to a nursing home and a hospital. New York State approved the Certificate of Need for the project this fall.

“It is exciting to think of the lives that will improve with these projects,” said Kelly. “Thursday’s announcement by the Governor is a wonderful endorsement of that vision.”

“Nathan Littauer is grateful to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Empire State Development, Mohawk Regional Economic Development Council and the Fulton County Planning Department,” said Kelly.

More information about the announcement can be found at:
https://www.ny.gov/sites/ny.gov/files/atoms/files/REDCAwardsBooklet2015.pdf

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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. For 121 years, 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 to offer health care that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities they serve.