2017 Priscilla Parkhurst Ferguson and Robert A. Ferguson Fund for Education recipients

2017 Priscilla Parkhurst Ferguson and Robert A. Ferguson Fund for Education recipients

Littauer employees are recipients of the Priscilla Parkhurst Ferguson and Robert A. Ferguson Fund for Education

Littauer President and CEO Laurence E. Kelly, Scholar Kayla Bellinger, Benefactor Dr. Priscilla Parkhurst Ferguson, Scholar Tammy Merendo, and Littauer Foundation Executive Director Geoffrey Peck (Missing in photo: Scholar Krista Sheils)

Littauer President and CEO Laurence E. Kelly, Scholar Kayla Bellinger, Benefactor Dr. Priscilla Parkhurst Ferguson, Scholar Tammy Merendo, and Littauer Foundation Executive Director Geoffrey Peck
(Missing in photo: Scholar Krista Sheils)

GLOVERSVILLE, NEW YORK (October 24, 2017) – Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home recently revealed the recipients of scholarships from the Priscilla Parkhurst Ferguson and Robert A. Ferguson Fund for Education. Kayla Bellinger, RN, BSN, Tammy Merendo, RN, and Krista Sheils RN, BSN received awards during a presentation at Littauer.

“The Nathan Littauer Foundation is honored to present these prestigious awards to Littauer employees wishing to continue their healthcare education. This has become an annual tradition made possible by the Ferguson’s generosity” said Geoffrey Peck Vice President / Executive Director Nathan Littauer Foundation. “They have been great benefactors, and we are thankful that they have chosen to support the education of Littauer staff.”

Kayla Bellinger works at Littauer’s Johnstown Surgical Center and is pursuing a career as a Family Nurse Practioner. “I am grateful for this award,” said Bellinger. “I can now pursue my dreams and soon give back to my community.”

Tammy Merendo, Director of Community Education for Littauer’s HealthLink, is currently finishing a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. Upon completion, she plans to pursue her Master’s degree. Merendo expressed gratitude noting; “I am so grateful for this opportunity to grow in my profession while remaining at Littauer.”

Krista Sheils, a Littauer maternity department nurse, is currently pursuing her Master’s in Nursing and her licensure as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

Priscilla and Robert Ferguson have created a legacy of support for Nathan Littauer Hospital. Scholarships have been awarded annually since 2014, to enhance the careers of Littauer employees.

Priscilla and Robert had expressed that helping Littauer and its employees is an excellent way to serve the community. Just as Littauer employees are the heart and soul of the hospital, so too is the hospital as it sustains Gloversville as a vital and desirable place to live.

Stewart’s Holiday Match supports Littauer’s littlest patients

The Nathan Littauer Foundation is proud to announce that with the support of the Stewarts Holiday Match Program, a donated check of $5800 will be used for care of infants in Littauer’s Birthing Center. This generous donation allows Littauer to give newborns the best possible start to life.

The Birthing Center will use the funds to purchase a new infant scale for the unit.

In photo are Ron Warner, Stewarts Manager Shop 247, left, Jamie Ward, Stewart’s District Manager, Geoffrey Peck, Nathan Littauer Foundation Executive Director, Laurence Kelly, Nathan Littauer Hospital President & CEO, and Danielle Carter, Stewart’s Assistant Manager, Shop 180.

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Yellow Dot Program provides first responders with critical information

GLOVERSVILLE, NEW YORK (April 25, 2017) –Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home and the Fulton County Sheriffs’ Office have announced a partnership to bring the New York State Sheriffs’ Association’s Yellow Dot Program to Fulton County.

Yellow Dot is a free program designed to help first responders provide life-saving medical attention during the first “golden hour” after a crash or other emergency.

The Yellow Dot kit contains a medical information card and a Yellow Dot decal. Participants complete the card, attach a recent photo, place it in the glove compartment of their vehicle and place the Yellow Dot decal on the rear driver’s side window, and at their home’s main entry door. First responders arriving at the scene of an emergency will be alerted by the Yellow Dot decal to look for the medical information card in the glove compartment, or in the home’s freezer.

“If an individual is involved in an accident or medical emergency, first responders will see the yellow dot and locate the medical packet in either the glove box or freezer in the home,’ said Fulton County Sheriff Richard C. Giardino. “While the freezer seems unusual, the program uses one set location to insure all individual’s information can be found quickly, rather than people leaving the medical packet anywhere they want.”

Yellow Dot kits will be distributed through Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing upon discharge.

“The Nathan Littauer Foundation, the charitable arm of Nathan Littauer Hospital, supports this project to increase patient’s safety in their homes and vehicles,” added Geoffrey Peck, Vice President, Executive Director/Nathan Littauer Foundation.

Funded by the New York State Sheriffs’ Association, the Yellow Dot Program is a free service available to individuals of all ages. In Fulton County, Yellow Dot kits will be available through the Fulton County Sheriffs’ Office. For information about the Yellow Dot Program, or to schedule a community presentation, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 518-736-2100. Additional information is available at http://nysheriffs.org/yellowdot.

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The Ferguson Fund supports two Littauer nurses

Recently, the Priscilla Parkhurst Ferguson and Robert A. Ferguson Fund for Education scholarship award was presented at Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home. Scholarships of $2,500 each were granted to Jennifer Elmendorf, RN, and Danielle McDuffee, LPN, both employees at Littauer.

Jennifer Elmendorf serves Nathan Littauer Hospital as an assistant manager and registered nurse in the Emergency Care Center. With her family present, Elmendorf explained how honored she felt to receive the Ferguson Scholarship. She is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Danielle McDuffee is an LPN who also works in Littauer’s Emergency Care Center. “I am so honored to receive the scholarship this year,” said McDuffee. “I reapplied for the award this year, and I’m so happy I remained persistent. The scholarship is going to be a big help in furthering my health care career.” McDuffee is pursuing her RN through Mohawk Valley Community College.

“We are honored by the Fergusons commitment to this scholarship fund,” said Nathan Littauer Foundation Executive Director Geoffrey Peck. He added that the Fergusons enjoy the opportunity to personally present the awards. “They meet the scholars, learn about their families, their work and how advancing their education will impact patient care.”

Dr. Priscilla Parkhurst Ferguson is a Gloversville native and a recently retired Professor of the Department of Sociology at Columbia University. Her husband, Dr. Robert A. Ferguson, is the George Edward Woodberry Professor in Law, Literature and Criticism at Columbia Law School. They own a home in Gloversville and are active in community. The Ferguson Fund continues a family tradition of support to the hospital. Priscilla’s father, Richard B. Parkhurst, served as a longtime member and officer on the Nathan Littauer Hospital Board of Directors.

“It was inspiring to meet the two scholarship recipients this year” said Priscilla. “Both of these local young ladies are extremely hardworking, and have chosen to further their careers, all while raising a family.”

Inspired by the diligence of the two scholarship recipients, Robert added, “We are great supporters of Gloversville, and of Nathan Littauer as a key institution in Fulton County. We hope that by giving back to this community, others will recognize the importance and do the same.”

As educators, Priscilla and Robert appreciate that learning never ends, and they know that the need for incremental learning is especially important and exciting in the medical field where necessary advances in health care take place. They also feel it is a good way to serve the community generally. Just as Littauer employees are the heart and soul of the hospital, so the hospital itself helps sustain Gloversville as a vital and desirable place to live. Priscilla and Robert expect to grow the Ferguson Fund to the point where it can help many employees advance their careers through continuing education while furthering the goals of ever better and safer patient care.

“We need the best and brightest minds to enter and remain in the field of healthcare,” said Littauer President and CEO Laurence Kelly. “The field of healthcare must have our finest and most prepared people. This scholarship ensures that its recipients will have the support to do so. It is hard to anticipate the demands that will be placed on hospitals in the future, but this scholarship helps us prepare our workforce for whatever that future will be.”

From left: NL Foundation Executive Director Geoffrey Peck, Jennifer Elmendorf, Dr. Robert A. Ferguson, Dr. Priscilla Parkhurst Ferguson, Danielle McDuffee. and NLH President and CEO Laurence E. Kelly

From left: NL Foundation Executive Director Geoffrey Peck, Jennifer Elmendorf, Dr. Robert A. Ferguson, Dr. Priscilla Parkhurst Ferguson, Danielle McDuffee. and NLH President and CEO Laurence E. Kelly

WOW! Technology meets comfort at Littauer

Nathan Littauer brings unique technology to the area

Once again, Littauer has brought cutting-edge diagnostic imaging to the region. The hospital added the latest MRI technology to their main campus. A new suite was constructed to house the Optima MR450w with GEM, the latest in an advanced system from GE Healthcare. The system is designed to help maximize patient comfort while delivering uncompromised image quality.

“This latest MRI is both patient and clinician friendly while producing leading-edge imagery,” states Director of Imaging/Cardiopulmonary Services Dwayne Eberle at Nathan Littauer Hospital.

“The image quality at Littauer is of the highest quality anywhere. You could not get a better image at another major hospital. And good imagery means a better diagnosis,” said Littauer’s Chief of Radiology Dr. John Mastrangelo.

The GE Optima* MR450w’s innovative wide bore design allows more space for added patient comfort. The table surface with different cushion densities is designed to alleviate pressure points, and a new coil array that offers feet-first imaging for all exam types.
“Our Diagnostic Team is committed to making people feel as comfortable as possible. We understand these are stressful tests. That is why my staff is committed to making people feel comfortable. The more comfortable a patient feels the better images we get” said Littauer’s Chief of Radiology Dr. John Mastrangelo.

In addition, GE’s Optima MR450w includes Silent Scan, a revolutionary new technique that makes some exams as quiet as a whisper.

“Nathan Littauer has always been a leader in bringing new diagnostic imaging to this area,” said Cheryl McGrattan, Littauer Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “People with migraines or people who are claustrophobic will be especially happy to hear this news.”

Funding for MRI was made in part by donations from the Nathan Littauer Foundation. “The community response to this MRI project was overwhelming. Clearly, people are committed to keeping Littauer in the forefront of technology. ” said Geoffrey Peck, Nathan Littauer Foundation Executive Director. He added, “We are so grateful to the donors who saw the need in our community and responded so generously.”

To learn more or to schedule services, contact Littauer’s Diagnostic Imaging Department at (518) 773-5520, or go to www.nlh.org

Photo – 03192015_optima_MRI1Littauer Patient Coordinator Keri Calhoun assists a patient for a scan in Littauer’s Optima MR450w with GEM, the latest in an advanced system from GE Healthcare