Phil Guild as 2019 Third Quarter Goodwill Award Recipient

Phil Guild as 2019 Third Quarter Goodwill Award Recipient

Phil Guild, RN, with his 2019 Third Quarter Goodwill Award.

Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home is proud to announce Phil Guild, RN, as the Third Quarter Goodwill Award recipient for 2019!

After being congratulated and presented with the award, Phil was momentarily speechless and overwhelmed with excitement. While smiling, he said, “I am very surprised!”

Laurence E. Kelly, President and CEO, presented Phil with the award November 13, during a gathering at Nate’s Café.

Interestingly, Phil was nominated for the Goodwill Award by a relative of a patient. Thanks to Phil’s efforts, not only was the patient extremely happy with the care received, but the family members were moved by Phil’s kind and caring expertise.

The family commended Phil for being gentle, patient, and compassionate. Always humble, Phil replied that he was “Just doing his job.”

Upon hearing Phil’s story, employees gave Phil a standing ovation for his heartwarming behavior. Afterwards, Phil received many positive comments, commendations, and a plaque recognizing his achievement.

“Phil is very good at what he does,” says Mr. Kelly. “It is not unusual for Phil to assist a patient in any way he can. It’s this type of quality care that makes us proud of our staff and their integrity.”

The mission of The Goodwill Award is to recognize goodwill and promote the “People Caring for People” environment toward co-workers, patients and the community of Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home.

Nominations for the award are made by Littauer employees, providers or patients, and nominees’ names are submitted to the Goodwill Committee. The winner is selected in blind format.

Congratulations, Phil! Way to go!

 

 

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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.

Littauer welcomes Karen Bruce, FNP, to Johnstown Primary/Specialty Care

– Nathan Littauer Hospital is proud to welcome Karen Bruce, RN, MS, FNP-C, to the Perry Street Johnstown Primary/Specialty Care Center. Ms. Bruce comes to Littauer from Cambridge, New York where she was working as a Nurse Practitioner in family health. She is a graduate of The Sage Colleges and is currently working on her PMHNP – Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

“Karen comes to us at a time when her services couldn’t be more welcomed and needed,” said Littauer’s Patrice McMahon – Vice President, Primary/Specialty Care Services. “We are thrilled to have her join the Littauer healthcare team.”

“I loved being a nurse,” said Bruce. “I just felt that I would be more effective and better benefit my patients as a Nurse Practitioner. “

Bruce has practiced all over the country and treated all age groups. “I have enjoyed every single one too,” added Bruce.

Bruce is currently seeing patients at the Johnstown Primary Specialty Care, Perry Street location. Appointments cam be made by calling (518) 736-1500. She will also be the Littauer Primary Care presence with The Family Counseling Center in Gloversville.

Karen Bruce, RN, MS, FNP-C, joins the Perry Street Johnstown Primary/Specialty Care Center

EMS Strong Announces ‘Stronger Together’ Campaign; Honors EMS Professionals

Campaign unifies the profession and brings awareness to National EMS Week, May 20-26

Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home Emergency Care Center together with EMS responders from the Ambulance Service of Fulton County. Paramedic Student, Peter Simoneau, left, EMT, Monique Lemperle, Paramedic Supervisor, Frank Sheeran, Littauer RN, Nicole Gueve, and Littauer ECC Manager, Maggie Houghton, RN, CEN

GLOVERSVILLE, NEW YORK (May 21, 2018) – Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home are joining the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), in partnership with the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), to proudly announce this year’s EMS STRONG campaign theme: STRONGER TOGETHER. The annual EMS STRONG campaign provides opportunities to recognize the emergency medical services (EMS) community, enhance and strengthen the profession on a national level, and expand and celebrate National EMS Week, May 20-26, 2018.

“Because we are a small community hospital, we rely on our EMS partners to provide professional emergency care services. We are a team working as one, caring for our patients,” states Littauer’s Emergency Care Center Manager, Maggie Houghton, RN, CEN.

The campaign brings together key organizations, media partners, and corporate sponsors that are committed to recognizing and fortifying the EMS community, commending recent groundbreaking accomplishments, and increasing awareness of National EMS Week.

“Last year’s devastating disasters and mass casualty incidents revealed the strength, dedication, and willingness of the EMS community to come to together, across the nation, in a time of dire need to aid our country,” says Dr. Paul D. Kivela, president, ACEP. “Now, more than ever, we must come together and honor the sacrifices that the EMS community makes by increasing awareness and finding opportunities to protect and pursue the interests of our nation’s EMS professionals.”

EMSSTRONG.org serves as a resource for stakeholders and the public to learn of inspiring stories from EMS practitioners, ways to get involved and EMS Week ideas, activities, and templates. The website, which is also home to the annual EMS Week Planning Guide, encourages EMS personnel and stakeholders to promote their own industry and share content on social media platforms.

“NAEMT is devoted to a future in which EMS is highly recognized and respected across all health care professions and among other health care stakeholders,” stated NAEMT President Dennis Rowe. “Whether it be through funding, resources, or political and public support, an enhanced EMS workforce allows practitioners to provide better patient care.”

EMS Week dedicates each day to specific themes under the ‘Stronger Together’ umbrella. First responders are encouraged to plan activities and events around these themes in their communities.

  • Monday, May 21: Education Day
  • Tuesday, May 22: Safety Day
  • Wednesday, May 23: EMS for Children Day
  • Thursday, May 24: Save-A-Life Day
  • Friday, May 25: EMS Recognition Day

Integral to the campaign’s success is the continuing involvement of the corporate sponsors, strategic association partners and strategic media partners.

Corporate Sponsors include:

Genentech, Medtronic, National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT), Priority Ambulance, Stryker Medical, Teleflex Medical, American Heart Association, Bound Tree Medical, PerSys Medical, Rev Group, Air Methods, Ferno, Inc., Laerdal Medical and Moore Medical

Strategic Association Partners include:

American Ambulance Association, Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education, Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters, International Public Safety Association, National Association of EMS Educators, National Association of EMS Physicians, National Association of State EMS Officials, National EMS Management Association, National Registry of EMTs and National Volunteer Fire Council.

 

About Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home

Nathan Littauer Hospital and Family of Health Services serves Fulton, Montgomery, and Hamilton counties in upstate New York with a full-service, 84-bed acute care hospital, 10 primary care centers, a nursing home and a community education center. The hospital was founded in 1894 and has nearly 1,000 employees. Littauer’s medical staff provides well over 130,000 patient encounters each year. For more information, please visit www.nlh.org.

Littauer’s A.C.E. Award presented to some valued employees

 

GLOVERSVILLE, NEW YORK (May 1, 2018) – “People helping people,” that’s what Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home is all about.

One of Littauer’s highest honors to receive is the A.C.E. Award. A.C.E. is an acronym meaning Awards Celebrating Employees. The award is given to any employee who does something extraordinary outside the scope of their role within the organization.

On April 16, three Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home employees were surprised with the A.C. E. Award before their peers. The Rev. Bonnie Orth, Pamela Bell and Alexis Hayes, RN, each received the award for their extraordinary work done outside the scope of their role within the organization. Paying their own way, and carrying in all supplies – Orth, Bell and Hayes joined 31 others and traveled to Pachaj, Guatemala in February for nine days to provide care to Guatemalan residents.

On Friday, April 6, Melissa A. Bown, ANP, employee health and infection prevention manager was driving to work when she witnessed a severe car accident. She quickly pulled over, called 9-1-1, and proceeded to check on the two drivers.

Smoke was filling the one vehicle from the dashboard. Bown assured the driver help was on the way and went on to open the vehicle doors allowing for ventilation. She then went to check on the other driver. Unable to open the vehicle doors due to the impact of the accident, Bown could only assure this driver to remain calm and help was on the way.

Bown feels she did nothing out of the ordinary that anyone would have done. Yet, her calm, assurance and professionalism were to be celebrated when she was then nominated for an A.C.E. Award. She received her award on April 19 before a gathering of her peers.

Littauer is very proud of these special employees. Their compassion and humanitarian efforts have gone far beyond what they bring to Littauer every day. For these reasons, they are each recognized.

 

 

Littauer A.C.E. Award winners Alexis Hayes, RN, left, Pamela Bell and the Rev. Bonnie Orth presented on April 16.

Littauer A.C.E. Award winner Melissa A. Bown, ANP, presented on April 19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salon Strong 2.0 with Nathan Littauer & New York Oncology Hematology a great success

Hair dressers and barbers pose for photo during the Salon Strong event at Lanzi’s on the Lake Monday. (The Leader-Herald/Briana O’Hara)

Here’s a news story from our media partner The Leader Herald

Apr 25, 2018/Briana O’Hara/Reporter

 

MAYFIELD — The special bond between a hairstylist and their clients who are diagnosed with cancer, along with the importance of a hairstylist’s education of how to care for their client’s hair, was the theme of the Salon Strong 2.0 event Monday.

New York Oncology Hematology and Nathan Littauer Hospital teamed up for Salon Strong 2.0 to teach hairstylists and barbers how to treat cancer patients’ hair when going through treatment and after treatment.

Kelly Quist-Demars who is a five-year ovarian cancer survivor said Salon Strong is a nice learning event for hairstylists and it’s a “thank you” event to thank hairstylists for the work they’ve done for cancer patients who lost their hair due to treatment.

“I think it means a lot more women will have the support they need during this,” Quist-Demars said. “I think it will help the hairstylists understand what role they play and what they really mean to people.”

When Quist-Demars was diagnosed with cancer she went to her hairstylist who happened to also be a longtime friend since kindergarten to get her hair cut shorter and eventually shaved.

“It’s emotional, you don’t really know what to expect,” Quist-Demars said. “Most women have never had a shaved head before; they don’t know what their head looks like underneath all their hair and you kind of wonder what that’s going to mean to you.”

Kelly Quist-Demars, a cancer survivor tells her story during the Salon Strong event Monday at Lanzi’s on the Lake. (The Leader-Herald/Briana O’Hara

Quist-Demars said it’s a turning point for a patient to have their hair shaved because with hair they can hide that they’re sick, but once they shave their head, everyone will know and they themselves have to accept that they’re sick too.

Her hairstylist had asked why she wanted to get her haircut short and that’s when Quist-Demars first told her hair stylist she had cancer.

“And this is one thing that really sucks about the whole cancer thing is telling people because everyone is going about their normal day and you just drop this in their lap and your poor hairstylist, who wants to help you look pretty, now all of a sudden has to go in a different mode,” Quist-Demars said.

Dr. Arsyl De Jesus, radiation oncologist at New York Oncology Hematology’s Amsterdam office, educated the hairstylists and barbers on hair care for cancer patients receiving any type of cancer treatment that can lead to hair loss or thinning of the hair.

Losing hair, or experiencing changes because of treatment, can be one of the toughest parts of a cancer journey.

“Especially with hair loss, you’re suddenly now different from everyone else with hair and then they feel more isolated because they cannot look the same,” De- Jesus said. “As stylist, what I ask for you to do is offer to help them with something that you guys do best and that is to help them with their hair and skin.”

De Jesus said hair loss happens because cancer cells are rapidly dividing and the radiation therapy and chemotherapy attack and kill rapidly dividing cells. Areas of rapidly dividing cells include the hair and skin and those areas will have side effects because of the chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It is hard to predict which patients will lose hair and what patients won’t, even if they get the same treatment. Some patients will just have hair thinning and some go completely bald.

Depending on the treatment, hair loss can start anywhere from one to three weeks after the treatment begins. It will start to get worse after one to two months of having treatment. De Jesus said patients will gradually notice when they lose their hair.

Dr. Arsyl De Jesus , MD, radation oncologist, gives a presentation to hair dressers and barbers on ways to care for a cancer patient’s hair during the Salon Strong event Monday. (The Leader-Herald/Briana O’Hara

Quist-Demars said hair loss was the only side effect that she couldn’t have control over. She gradually worked toward shaving her hair starting from a medium length hair to something a little shorter to really short to shaved.

“I did everything I could at that point to keep my hair,” Quist said. “The good thing is I looked awesome with shaved hair and I think most women really look awesome with shaved heads.”

De Jesus said some treatments can effect hair everywhere. Hair loss can occur for facial hair, armpit hair, pubic hair, leg hair, eye brows and eyelash hair. De Jesus said radiation causes hair loss only in the areas being treated.

In most cases, hair will grow back once treatment is finished. De Jesus said it will take several weeks for the hair to actually start growing, and six to 12 months for scalp hair to grow back completely. She said when the hair first starts to grow back it might be a different texture or color.

“It takes a while for the pigment cells in our hair follicles to regenerate or re-grow back so that it comes out without pigment and later on develops its natural pigment,” De Jesus said.

When it comes to hairstylists caring for cancer patients’ hair, some ways to treat their hair is by going easy on the hair and to stay away from products that contain strong fragrances. Other suggestions include to not color, perm, or chemically straighten the hair when the client is getting any cancer treatment; don’t use rollers, curling irons or straightening irons; and use a soft bristles brushes and let hair air dry rather than a hair dryer because it could cause more damage.

She said if some of the hair clients want to have their hair cut or shaved in private, to possibly go to that client’s home.

De Jesus suggested for stylists to try shorter hairstyles first rather than starting drastic so they can start getting use to how they look. If a client wants to shave their head, then to use an electric shaver.

“There is a big difference to having control over the hair loss rather than the hair loss have control over you,” De Jesus said.

Tammy Merendo, RN, Ddrector of Healthlink Community Education at Nathan Littauer Hospital speaks during the Salon Strong event at Lanzi’s on the Lake Monday. (The Leader-Herald/Briana O’Hara)