Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home and 1199 SEIU Members Ratify New Contract Posted on March 17, 2016 by Dakota PikeThe new pact heralded by both sides for fairness and employee protectionsMarch 15, 2016 Four hundred healthcare workers at Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home in Gloversville, New York who are represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East have a new collective bargaining agreement. Monday, March 14 the members voted overwhelmingly in favor of the union agreement. The ratification vote took place after eight months of negotiations. “The end result is an agreement that is fair to both sides,” stated Laurence E. Kelly, Nathan Littauer’s President and CEO. 1199SEIU Vice President Rosa Lomuscio said, “We came into the process with the goal of securing good wages and affordable health and pension benefits, and after a long haul, we succeeded. Negotiating is never easy, especially when people’s livelihoods are at stake. The most important thing to remember is the connection between the well-being of healthcare workers and quality care. That makes this agreement a win for everyone — the hospital, the workers, our patients and in the end the entire community.” 1199SEIU represents 40 percent of the hospital’s total workforce. “From the beginning, this was a real collaboration,” explained Lana E. Wydra, PHR, SHRM-CP and Vice President of Human Resources for Littauer. “Each negotiating session was a true working group – committed to working together towards a reasonable contract. We rolled up our sleeves and shared common goals. In the end, we hammered out a contract that is equitable and fair.” She concluded, “I am proud of the outcome because it honors all of our employees and our broader patient mission.” Today, the two sides announced a final four-year agreement. The new contract provides for increases in base wages, plus increased pension and health insurance contributions by the hospital and the employees. The new contract is effective to June 30, 2019. Littauer employees covered by the 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 an impressive accomplishment,” said Mr. Kelly. He went on to say, “We’ve reached a very good contract, with very good employees. These negotiations have proved Littauer and its employees can adapt to the ever-changing workforce and move forward with confidence.” Melissa Tambasco, an 1199SEIU negotiating committee member and Ward Clerk at the hospital said, “This contract is about economic security for me. It’s not easy to make ends meet at home anymore. Knowing that I have affordable health insurance, guaranteed wages increases and a pension for my future is a big relief. When I go to work, I want to be fully present for my patients and their families — not worrying about paying the next bill.” That sentiment is echoed by 1199SEIU negotiating team member and Littauer Printer, Charles B. Pettit III. “Negotiations went nicely and we’re glad it’s settled.” Mr. Pettit added, “We were happy to work together to reach an agreement in a reasonable time.”XXXABOUT 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-¬growing healthcare union in the nation, with over 400,000 nurses and caregivers throughout Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Florida. 1199SEIU is part of the 2.1 million member Service Employees International Union. 1199SEIU’s mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all. For more information please visit www.1199seiu.org.ABOUT Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home Nathan 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.
Nathan Littauer Hospital Designated Blue Distinction® Center for Maternity Care Posted on March 17, 2016 by Dakota Pike GLOVERSVILLE – In an effort to help prospective parents find hospitals that deliver quality maternity care, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield announced that Nathan Littauer Hospital has been designated as one of the first hospitals to receive the Blue Distinction Center for Maternity Care designation, a new designation under the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.Nearly four million babies are born in the U.S. annually, making childbirth the most common cause of hospitalization. This new Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program evaluates hospitals on several quality measures, including the percentage of newborns that fall into the category of early elective delivery, an ongoing concern in the medical community. Compared with babies born 39 weeks or later, early term infants face higher risks of infant death and respiratory ailments such as respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, and respiratory failure, among other conditions. These babies also have a higher rate of admission to Neonatal Intensive Care Units.In addition, hospitals that receive a Blue Distinction Center for Maternity Care designation agreed to meet requirements that align with principles that support evidence-based practices of care, as well as having initiated programs to promote successful breastfeeding, as described in the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative by Baby-Friendly USA or the Mother-Friendly Hospital program by the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) through its “Ten Steps of Mother-Friendly Care.” The program also evaluates hospitals on overall patient satisfaction, including a willingness to recommend the hospital to others.Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care, an expansion of the national Blue Distinction® Specialty Care program, are hospitals recognized for delivering quality specialty care safely and effectively, based on objective measures developed with input from the medical community.“I am so proud of our team,” said Maureen Mosher, Littauer Manager of Maternal Child Health. “Being one of the first hospitals designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Maternity Care is a distinction we have achieved through our heartfelt dedication to our patients and community.”Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies across the nation have recognized more than 280 hospitals as Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care. Hospitals recognized for these designations were assessed using a combination of publicly available quality information and cost measures derived from BCBS companies’ medical claims.Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality providers for their specialty care needs in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacements, spine surgery and transplants. Research shows that compared to other facilities, those designated as Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients.For more information about the program, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.XXX Nathan 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. Nathan Littauer continues to offer the latest in diagnostic imaging, including a new MRI suite. Littauer’s medical staff provides well over 100,000 patient encounters each year. For more information, please visit www.nlh.org.Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, is part of a family of companies that finances and delivers vital health care services to about 1.5 million people across upstate New York. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield provides access to high-quality, affordable health coverage, including valuable health-related resources that our members use every day, such as cost-saving prescription drug discounts and wellness tracking tools. To learn more, visit ExcellusBCBS.com.The Birthing Center at Nathan Littauer Hospital has been designated as one of the first hospitals to receive the Blue Distinction Center for Maternity Care designation
Former Chief VanDeusen helms security at Littauer Posted on March 17, 2016 by Dakota PikeGLOVERSVILLE – Littauer is proud to welcome Donald W. VanDeusen III as the hospital’s new Supervisor of Security and Emergency Management. VanDeusen is well known in the community for his 26 years as a Gloversville Police officer and more recently as the Gloversville Police Chief. “Littauer is thrilled to have a professional with Don’s law enforcement experience working directly on our campus,” said NLH Vice President of Community Relations, Cheryl McGrattan. “His integrity and vast knowledge in the field is an asset to Nathan Littauer.” VanDeusen has smoothly transitioned into his new role. “I have met a lot of good people which makes the management transition from a municipality to health care much easier,” said VanDeusen. VanDeusen’s responsibilities include hospital security, and emergency management at Littauer and all nine primary & specialty cares centers.Littauer’s new Supervisor of Security and Emergency Management, Donald W. VanDeusen III
Littauer announces Paula Zemken 2015 Employee of the Year Posted on March 17, 2016 by Dakota PikeGLOVERSVILLE – Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home announces Paula Zemken, Office Coordinator Women’s Health as the 2015 Goodwill Employee of the Year. Zemken was nominated by her peers for this top honor for going above and beyond to help others every day. She has been a Littauer employee since 2003.Littauer President and CEO Laurence Kelly made the announcement at a hospital-wide celebration praising Zemken stating, “She is an example of the best of the best.”“I am very surprised and very, very honored” said Zemken.Littauer has over 1000 employees and Paula Zemken was nominated by her peers for this top honor. She has a special way with our patients and our providers,” said Goodwill Committee Chairperson Brenda Hammons. “From helping to bring new life into this world, to promoting healthy lifestyles, Paula is someone we count on to get things done,” Hammons added.In a blind format, the Goodwill Committee narrowed the scope to three finalists. First runner up honors went to Michelle Beckley, a Registered Nurse in Littauer’s Special Care Center and second runner up to Occupational Health Coordinator, Deb Perham.Zemken received along with her honor Flowers, a cake, gift certificate, check, and the coveted year-long prime parking spot, and a plaque on Littauer’s Wall of Fame.Paula Zemken, Littauer’s 2015 Goodwill Employee of the YearLittauer 2015 Gooedwill Award winners, Kelly Perham, left, standing in for second runner-up Deb Perham, 2015 Goodwill Employee of the Year Paula Zemken, and first runner-up Michelle Beckley
Meet Dorothy Person Burdick Posted on March 3, 2016March 3, 2016 by Dakota PikeDid you know we also provide long and short term rehabilitation? Meet Dottie, a patient who had a great experience in our Nursing Home. Learn how we change people’s lives, everyday.
