Littauer’s Sepsis Care Initiative Posted on January 30, 2020January 30, 2020 by Dakota PikeGLOVERSVILLE, NY – Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home is raising awareness for sepsis. Sepsis is a complication of an infection. It requires immediate and emergency medical attention. Although many may not have heard of sepsis, it has become one man’s quest to change that.“Sepsis is responsible for more patient deaths than any other hospital condition nationally,” says Wes McFee, Performance Improvement Specialist with Littauer. “In Littauer’s last quarters of 2019, we have out-performed 94 percent of New York State hospitals in regards to compliant sepsis care. We have increased our overall performance for sepsis protocols.”Nathan Littauer’s Performance Improvement Specialist, Wes McFee.Recently, McFee delivered a statewide presentation on “Littauer’s Sepsis Care Initiative” at the request of The New York State Department of Health. The presentation addressed sepsis protocols within the hospital setting, and also discussed corrective action strategies regarding the deadly illness. Using compiled sepsis data, McFee discussed the strategies he implemented for Nathan Littauer Hospital with the Department of Health. The strategies used at Littauer have improved the quality of care, and will serve as a model for other hospitals in New York State to consider adapting. Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home also led the charge in providing more awareness for sepsis with their “sepsis awareness campaign” September 2019. As a result, the campaign brought an immense amount of community awareness of the illness. Many members of the region were discussing the dangers of sepsis on social media. “Sepsis is no laughing matter,” McFee adds. “It has a high mortality rate, so we’re always looking to improve. This is a beginning of our long-term goals for sepsis care at Littauer. We’ll continue these strategies, and reach our goals.”###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.
Sepsis Awareness Month 2019 Posted on September 4, 2019September 3, 2019 by Dakota PikeGLOVERSVILLE, NY – Every September, healthcare providers, the public, and organizations big and small come together to raise awareness of sepsis, the leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals. Sepsis is a public health crisis, taking a life every two minutes, according to the Sepsis Alliance. That is 270,000 lives lost to sepsis every year in the U.S., more than lives lost to opioid overdoses, breast cancer, and prostate cancer combined.“We are proud,” says Wes McFee, Performance Improvement Specialist. “Nathan Littauer Hospital is in the 94th percentile when it comes to New York State Sepsis Protocol. We’re in the top five percent of all hospitals in the state. It is amazing how much we’ve learned and adapted our protocols. We’ve increased our reaction to and treatment of sepsis. When lives are in the balance, our team is solely focused on appropriate sepsis care. It’s rewarding because I am sure we have saved lives due to our compliance with these protocols.”Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home is helping to raise awareness by offering information provided by the Sepsis Alliance.Sepsis Alliance created an acronym to help recognize signs and symptoms of sepsis – TIME™. The abbreviations for the acronym are: T for Temperature that is abnormal, I for signs of Infection, M for Mental Decline, and E for feeling Extremely ill.Nathan Littauer is recognizing Sepsis Awareness Month during September by mounting a social media and radio campaign. According to Sepsis Alliance, “The key to saving lives is TIME. For every hour treatment is delayed, the risk of death increases by as much as eight percent. ‘TIME’ is a memory aid, developed by Sepsis Alliance, to help individuals remember the signs and symptoms of sepsis and the urgent need for medical treatment when they are present.”For information about more signs and symptoms of sepsis, statistical data regarding sepsis, or to join the organization, please visit: www.sepsis.org###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 2018 Posted on October 8, 2018 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Alicia DeRuscio, B.S.Community Education Assistant SepsisWhat Is Sepsis?The National Institute of Health defines sepsis as a serious medical condition caused by the body’s immune response to an infection. In order to fight an infection, your body releases chemicals into the blood that cause inflammation and affect blood flow. Poor blood flow results in a lack of oxygen and nutrients supplied to organs, which can lead to organ failure and, in severe cases, death.It’s important to protect yourself against sepsis by knowing the risk factors, recognizing the symptoms, and talking with your healthcare provider to stay ahead of sepsis!What Causes Sepsis?There are many types of disease-causing organisms that can cause sepsis including bacteria, fungi and viruses. The National Institute of General Medical Sciences lists bacteria as the most common cause of sepsis. Often times, sepsis occurs from an infection within the blood, but sepsis can also result from an infection of a single body part such as the lungs, the skin, or the urinary tract.Who Is At Risk For Sepsis?According the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, anyone can be at risk for sepsis. Infections occur in all people, and all infections can lead to sepsis. However, individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease are at greater risk for developing infections. Those more commonly affected by sepsis include adults 65 years or older, children under the age of one, and individuals with a weakened immune system.What Are The Symptoms?If you have an infection that does not improve, experience any of the following symptoms, or feel you may be at risk for sepsis, the CDC recommends contacting your healthcare provider immediately:Confusion or disorientationShortness of breathHigh or rapid heart rateFever, shivering or feeling very coldExtreme pain or discomfortFeeling clammy or sweatyHow Can I Protect Myself?In order to protect your health, talk with your healthcare provider about preventing infection, discuss the risk for sepsis, and how to manage chronic conditions. The CDC also recommends educating yourself and your loved ones on sepsis, as well as practicing good hand hygiene. Make sure to wash your hands anytime they are soiled or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to kill germs and prevent the spread of bacteria.If you would like to learn more, attend a special program on ‘All About Sepsis’ presented by Dr. Frederick Goldberg, Littauer’s Vice President of Medical Affairs & Chief Medical Officer, on October 24 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.
