The Birthing Center at Littauer is OPEN!

The Birthing Center at Littauer is OPEN!

Our New Birthing Center at Littauer is a destination maternity center for any family. Unlike any in our region it combines, state of the art technology with a spa-like setting.

Gloversville, NY…It took 13 tons of sheet rock, 1000 feet of oak trim, 1800 feet of wire, 50 gallons of paint, $1.2 million dollars, 3 miles of wire and 162 days to complete the New Birthing Center at Littauer. And the final results are dramatic. As Susan Kiernan, Vice President of Development likes to point out, “When you step into our New Birthing Center you would never guess you were in a hospital.” From the pendant lighting to the private whirlpool birthing suites, the Hospital is certain new families will be delighted with the results. Littauer will officially celebrate the Center’s opening with a slate of activities. The Hospital will host a ribbon cutting Tuesday, December 15th at 4:45 pm, and will show off the center to the public at 5:30 pm that same day. The Hospital will also be unveiling a donor wall at 5:35 pm featuring the donors who made the project and other improvements at the hospital possible. Patients will start using the unit later that week.

“The Center is probably one of the most highly-anticipated projects we have ever launched.” stated Laurence E. Kelly, Littauer’s President and CEO. He continued, “It started with a desire to replace our aging maternity unit with a state-of-the-art new center.” Leadership at the hospital traveled to a hospital in Colorado and toured their maternity center and emergency department in August of 2008. He explained, “We brought back a lot of ideas. Staff did a lot of research about what families were looking for in a birthing center. And when we set our goals and objectives for 2009, this project was at the top of our list.” He added, “It is more than gratifying to see it completed, and even surpassing our expectations.”

Kim Colvin, Manager of Maternal Child Health, who has been heading up the project for Littauer agreed noting, “We really talked to our families. I poured over pictures of successful maternity centers and others read research about successful maternity centers. We found four common themes emerged. Families wanted: safety and services; luxury; privacy; and a sense of freedom. So in essence we built a center around that.” Ms. Colvin explained, “We agonized over every detail right down to the color, amenities and carpet pile. And I think that shows.” She added, “What we are delivering to the community on Tuesday is one of the best centers I have ever seen. It certainly will be an asset to our region.”

The architect for the hospital project was David Souers of Optimus Architecture located in Kingston, New York. They created an Adirondack-inspired center for Littauer replete with oak trim, wood styled floors, granite hued ceramic tile accented with a palette of greens and golds and finished with wrought iron lighting.

The new unit has been dubbed “The NEW Birthing Center at Nathan Littauer” and it now holds three labor and delivery rooms and 7 postpartum rooms. The Hospital also made improvements to their surgical room for mothers delivering by C-Section. The new unit boasts the following amenities in a spa-like setting: private rooms with private baths, hydrotherapy-whirlpool tubs, wireless internet service, birthing suites with overnight accommodations for partners, pregnancy and newborn education, 24/7 hour anesthesia, highest patient satisfaction scores, a flat screen TV in every room, kitchenette for families, interpreter services, family-centered care, expertly decorated rooms in a restful environment, soft lighting, sitting room/family lounge, take-out gourmet meals, lactation counselors and nurses trained in breastfeeding support, experienced and compassionate midwives and doctors, an education room, a secure nursery, and all attended to by nationally certified nurses.

And the center will be opening just in time according to Mr. Kelly, “We are expecting a holiday baby.”

To learn more about the New Birthing Center people are encouraged to visit the hospital’s website at www.nlh.org. Families hoping to deliver in the near future are encouraged to attend the hospital’s open house Tuesday at 5:30 pm or by arranging a tour by emailing the hospital at baby@nlh.org or by calling: 518-773-5494.

Moms delivering at Littauer get big send off

Nicole Skiff looks through her gift bags moments before she leaves.

Pampered gifts are well received

With the opening of the newly renovated maternity center quickly approaching, families who have been inconvenienced by the maternity construction have been given royal treatment by Littauer staff. Littauer has made sure that those mothers delivering during the transition phase do not feel slighted. “Each family has been given a bevy of very well-planned and thoughtful gifts.” stated Kimberly Colvin, Manager of Maternal Child Health. “We wanted to thank them for their patience as we rebuilt our maternity unit.” She added, “We had to relocate our maternity department during the construction phase. It was a huge undertaking.”

 

“I would say on the whole, few families even noticed the difference.” stated Hospital spokesperson Cheryl McGrattan. She added, “The staff really went the extra mile to make the temporary maternity unit as comfortable as possible. I do know however, everyone is anxious to get into our new maternity unit.” The hospital moved the unit to the second floor in the pediatric area during the renovation phase.

As a gesture of appreciation, families were given a new combination web, video and digital camera, a construction hat for the baby, chocolates and perhaps best of all, a meal to take home. When a family is ready for discharge, a culinary-trained chef arrives at their room with a complete meal to take home in an eco-friendly bag. For the occasion, the hospital chef Rick Wells created grilled chicken penne pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh bread and chocolate truffles. The meals come with an ingredient list and also reheating instructions. Ms. Colvin notes, “The meals were such a huge hit I think we are going to continue it even after our grand opening.”

Kim Colvin explained, “When we researched the best gifts for mothers, time-and-time again, they said that getting a meal from a neighbor or family member was the best gift of all. And I thought, ‘Well, we have always thought of our hospital as neighborly’ and the idea was born.” The nurses state that mothers are thrilled. Ms. Colvin notes, “It also gives me a certain sense of relief knowing that a good meal is going home with these very nervous and exhausted families.” She concluded, “I do not know of any other hospital in the region that does this.”

And Nicole Skiff would agree. She delivered her baby at Littauer during the renovation phase and she was more than happy to receive the gifts. But according to Nicole Skiff it was the meal that was most meaningful. She explained, “I was thinking, ‘what can I do for dinner tonight?’ and here it is!”

With the renovation phase almost done, Littauer’s President and CEO, Laurence E. Kelly announced last night at a Hospital event, “I am sure we will have a baby in our new maternity unit before Christmas!” Announcements about the grand opening are expected shortly.

xxx

New procedure at LITTAUER offers hope to chronic sinusitis sufferers

Dr. Paddock and Littauer team up to provide cutting-edge service to the area

Dr. Paddock before sinus surgery

Gloversville, NY… Nathan Littauer Hospital in conjunction with Dr. Bradley Paddock, a local Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Physician, has announced the launch of a Balloon SinuplastyTM treatment at Nathan Littauer’s Surgical Center in Gloversville.

Littauer’s CEO and President Laurence E. Kelly notes, “Yet again, we are the first in the area to offer a new procedure to our patients. This procedure in particular, offers new hope to people who suffer with sinusitis, a very common problem.”

Dr. Paddock has been working extensively with Acclarent, Inc., a privately held medical device company in Menlo Park, CA. According to Acclarent, the company is focused on “achieving the goals of sinus surgery with novel, endoscopic, catheter-based tools – Balloon Sinuplasty™ devices.” Acclarent reports that about 10% of the population suffers with sinusitis and could benefit from this procedure. Dr. Paddock has completed Acclarent’s certification course in balloon sinuplasty and related techniques.

According to Paddock, sinusitis sufferers generally tend to live with their symptoms or use a myriad of medications like nasal sprays or antibiotics. More drastic treatments can involve cutting and drilling surgery on the delicate bones of the para nasal sinus complex. Dr. Paddock explains, “We have been performing this procedure since August with excellent results.”

The new Balloon Sinuplasty treatment offers a less invasive way to treat patients. Balloon Sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that works by widening the drainage channels from the sinuses into the nasal cavities through the use of specially designed balloons. The surgery can be done as an outpatient service allowing patients the opportunity to go home that day. It can also be done as a compliment to conventional sinus surgery.

Dr. Paddock states, “NLH was one of the first two hospitals to bring fiber optic sinus surgery to the Capital District and it was one of the first hospitals to use image-guided techniques. I am glad that we can again offer an improvement to our patients with sinus disease. While Acclarent’s equipment allows us to help patients with any sinus problems it is especially beneficial to patients with frontal and sphenoid sinus disease. “

To find out more information on the procedure please contact the office of Dr. Bradley Paddock at 518-725-8656.

XXX

Wellness Words December 2009

HealthLink Littauer’s

WELLNESS WORDS

Submitted by Carol Tomlinson RN BS

Community Health Educator

TIPS TO KEEP YOUR HOLIDAYS SAFE & FUN

Every year, we look forward to a wonderful holiday season with friends and family. Holidays can be a great time of the year if we are careful and plan ahead. However, each year the holidays end up being one of the busiest times for Emergency Rooms. Rushing, stress and unpredictable weather all play their part.

This year, the American College of Emergency Room Physicians and the Hope Health Newsletter have developed tips from decorating to dining that can help to keep your holidays safe as well as fun!

1. Check all fireplaces, heaters and stoves for proper ventilation. Install a carbon monoxide
detector and smoke detector if you don’t have them in your home. Check the batteries if
you do have these devices.

2. When hanging decorations, always have someone hold the ladder for you and use the proper
size ladder.

3. Use a pair of scissors instead of a razor blade or other sharp object to open boxes.

4. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the turkey and other meats are cooked thoroughly.
Refrigerate leftovers immediately.

5. To prevent fires or shock, avoid overloading electrical outlets.

6. Secure trees and other decorations so that they can’t fall or be pulled down by children or pets.

7. If you have high blood pressure or other heart problems, don’t overindulge in holiday food,
and limit your salt intake.

8. Avoid shoveling snow if you are out of shape or have a history of heart problems.

9. Drink only in moderation and, if you do drink, please have a designated driver bring you home.

10. If you give a bike, skateboard or similar gift, make sure the child has a helmet—or include one
as part of the gift.

Follow these common sense tips to make this holiday season a safe and healthy one.

The staff of HealthLink Littauer wishes you joy and peace during this special time of the year!

For more information on health and wellness, you can call us at 736-1120, e-mail us at healthlink@nlh.org, see our website at www.nlh.org, or visit our wellness center at 213 Harrison Street Ext. in Johnstown, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. We’re celebrating 20 years of being your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.