Wellness Words December 2011 Posted on December 7, 2011August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Ryan Wille, B.S.Community Health Educator STAYING FIT DURING WINTER The cold temperatures and snowy conditions of winter force many people to hibernate in their homes. It is important for the human body to stay active throughout all of the four seasons. However, many people get little to no exercise during the winter months. There are many ways that people can stay healthy and active during this time. WebMD has provided several ideas, which include:INDOORS:Go for walks with friends at the mall, local schools and churches that have indoor gyms or large areas to walk.Get some hand weights or stretch bands to use at home for resistance exercise.Buy or rent an exercise DVD.Take the stairs and fit in walk breaks whenever you can. This will give you extra activity during the day.Perform active housework like sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, doing laundry, or washing the windows.Join a gym or health club. These facilities have treadmills, stair-climbers, exercise bikes, free-weights and even fitness classes.Get involved in sports leagues in your community or at work. Many places offer indoor sports like basketball, volleyball, soccer or swimming. OUTDOORS:Bundle up and take the dog for a walk. This can help make walks part of the daily routine.Shoveling snow can be a great winter exercise. If you have heart problems or other health conditions, be sure to ask your doctor is shoveling is okay. Overdoing it can lead to dangerous strain on the body. Try a new winter activity. These activities could include skating, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing. If you do outdoor activities in less populated areas, be sure to plan ahead. Let people know where you will be, and take the right gear for the conditions. If you plan to be active outdoors, it is important to dress appropriately for the winter weather. It is best to wear:A warm hat. If it’s very cold, you also may want to wear covering for your face.Layers of clothing to keep you warm. Wear a waterproof outer layer to keep dry.Clothing made of wool, polypropylene, or a material like thinsulate. These will keep you from losing body heat even if the material gets wet. DON’T WEAR COTTON.Wool socks and waterproof shoes. It’s important to keep your feet warm and dry during outdoor activities. These socks and shoes should fit tightly, but not too tight.Mittens rather than gloves. Mittens keep your fingers close together and you can roll them into a tight fist for warmth. For more information, visit WebMD.com or call HealthLink Littauer at 736-1120. You can e-mail us at healthlink@nlh.org, see our website at nlh.org, or visit our wellness center at 213 Harrison Street Ext. in Johnstown, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
Keeping young athletes safe and in the game Posted on November 23, 2011August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeNathan Littauer Hospital announces free seminar: “Preventing Sports Injuries in Young Athletes”Littauer’s Sports Medicine and Rehab Team will host a seminar Nov 30.Gloversville , NY — Nathan Littauer Hospital Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Team announced today a free seminar aimed at “keeping kids and safe and in the game”. “Preventing Sports Injuries in Young Athletes” will be held November 30, 2011 at the Johnstown Holiday Inn, 308 Comrie Avenue Johnstown., NY. The seminar is aimed at getting the word out to parents, coaches, healthcare workers and athletes themselves about the risks of Overuse Injuries. The seminar will also include new information about sports concussions and heat-related illness. On hand will be Physicians, injured athletes, Athletic Directors and Physical Therapists. The hospital started this campaign in conjunction with STOP Sports Injury about 14 months ago. As such, it is the first of its kind in upstate New York and part of the hospital’s ongoing effort to educate the community about the growing epidemic of overuse injuries and trauma among young athletes. This is the second seminar of its kind since Nathan Littauer joined forces with STOP Sports injuries, a national organization dedicated to sports injury and trauma prevention for kids.The keynote speaker will be Dr. Gerald Ortiz, a leading orthopedic surgeon. He will be speaking about “Sports medicine: A spotlight on the young athlete and ligament injuries.” Also new this year is an Athletic Director’s Round Table: Safeguarding the Young Athlete representing five school districts. “I would think any parent with a child in athletics would want to hear from this group of professionals.” said hospital spokesperson, Cheryl McGrattan. She added, “It will be a rare opportunity to hear what local school districts are doing to keep kids safe while they are participating in sports. This is a good time to hold an event like this as many students start gearing up for spring and summer sports participation now.” She concluded, “Also many winter athletes are particularly vulnerable to injury and dehydration”.The Athletic Directors Round Table will feature the following speakers and the following topics:Adam Barnhart, Athletic Director at Broadalbin Perth Schools. Topic: How an effective warm up affects performance and injury prevention. Eileen Rovito, Athletic Director at Mayfield Schools. Topic: A review of the NYS Public HS Athletic Association concussion guidelines. Mike DeMagistris, Athletic Director at Gloversville Schools. Topic: The use of the Head Impact Telemetry System in High School Sports.Charles Karker, Athletic Director at Fort Plain Schools. Ron Smith, Athletic Director at Amsterdam Schools. Topic: A focus on heat related illness during sports.Last year, Nathan Littauer Hospital was one of the first hospitals to join a nationwide movement to address the critical issue of safe sports participation. As a participating STOP Sports Injury Medical Institution Nathan Littauer has been working in the region to help prevent athletic overuse injuries and trauma injuries.William Oates, Director of the Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Team states, “Any one who comes to this seminar will leave with knowledge and practical information to keep you athletes safe and in the game.” He added, “Our first conference, held in September of ’10, was a huge success with 120 people in attendance and a great amount of positive feedback. ““Preventing Sports Injuries in Young Athletes” will be held November 30, 2011 at the Johnstown Holiday Inn, 308 Comrie Avenue Johnstown., NY. Registration and refreshments start at 6:00pm with the program starting at 6:30pm. The program will be about 1.5 hours long. The event is free and open to the public. Anyone who is interested in attending the seminar is encouraged to RSVP by calling 773-5533 or 773-5540 or by emailing stopsportsinjuries@nlh.org. Compelling Statistics on a Growing Epidemic:There is a growing epidemic of preventable youth sports injuries that are dismantling kids’ athletic hopes and dreams at an early age. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), participation in organized sports is on the rise. Nearly 30 million children and adolescents participate in youth sports in the United States. This increase in play has led to some other startling statistics about injuries amongAmerica’s young athletes. Sports injuries can cause permanent damage and increase the chances of surgeries and arthritis later in life. If an injury does occur, early identification and proper treatment is the key to a successful recovery.High school athletes account for an estimated 2 million injuries and 500,000 doctor visits and 30,000 hospitalizations each year.1Children ages 5 to 14 account for nearly 40 percent of all sports-related injuries treated in hospitals. On average the rate and severity of injury increases with a child’s age.2Injuries associated with participation in sports and recreational activities account for 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries among children in the United States.2 According to the CDC, more than half of all sports injuries in children are preventable. Armed with the correct information and tools, today’s youth athletes can remain healthy, play safe, and stay in the game for life. References:1. JS Powell, KD Barber Foss, 1999. Injury patterns in selected high school sports: a review of the 1995-1997 seasons.J Athl Train. 34: 277-84.2 Preserving the Future of Sport: From Prevention to Treatment of Youth Overuse Sports Injuries.AOSSM 2009 Annual Meeting Pre-Conference Program. Keystone, Coloradohttp://stopsportsinjuries.reingoldweb.com/files/pdf/Option-B.pdf*American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, AAOS Now, 2009 xxxAbout STOP Sports Injuries More information can be found at: http://www.stopsportsinjuries.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 located in Gloversville, NY. Littauer provides the finest in state-of-the-art technology and a caring, dedicated staff of health care professionals. Over the years, the hospital has expanded its services in order offer health care that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities we serve. The Littauer medical staff brings amazing technical expertise and competence to the residents of Fulton County and the surrounding communities.
Nathan Littauer and Fulmont Community Action Agency join forces to help local children and families. Posted on November 22, 2011August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeThe Fulmont Community Action Agency announced today a donation they received from Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home. A check in the amount of $4,783.75 was presented to Denis E. Wilson, Sr. Executive Director/CEO of the Fulmont Community Action Agency during a short presentation at the hospital last month.Larry Kelly speaks to the crowd gathered about the importance of the Kozy Coat project. Denis Wilson Listens.Denis Wilson stated “I was moved by the exciting mood of the many Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home employees present at this event.”The project called, “Kozy Coats” is an initiative of the hospital’s Courtesy Council and it includes a basket raffle in which all proceeds are donated to Fulmont Community Action Agency, Community Services division. Twenty-six different departments each donated baskets this year. In turn, the proceeds are used to buy outerwear for local children. Last year, their efforts helped to clothe 180 children.Bob Shwajlyk presents Denis Wilson with a check. Standing left to right: Larry Kelly, Moshgan Jones, Denis Wilson, Bob Shwajlyk and Ann Black, Deputy Executive Director at FulmontSusan Kiernan, Vice President of Development stated, “It is remarkable. This is entirely an employee led initiative. And their creativity to support our community should be commended.” This year hospital employees also organized a coat donation program, gathering coats from hospital employees and arranging for their cleaning at Robinson Smith. In all, the hospital collected over 100 gently-used coats for local children.Nathan Littauer’s Kozy Coat project has raised over $35,000 since its inception in 2000. “The numbers are staggering.” said Hospital Spokesperson, Cheryl McGrattan. “The employees are beyond generous, giving large ticket items for the raffle. And they have fun doing it.” As one of the Nathan Littauer organizers Moshgan Jones said, “The proud employees of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home have touched and warned so many kids’ hearts in our community.”Denis Wilson thanked all the employees present for their giving and caring spirit in conducting the raffle once again this year. He stated that “he would like to recognize the fact that this is the 12th year the Courtesy Council has conducted this event which over the years has helped Fulmont to purchase warm outerwear for over 1,000 children in Fulton and Montgomery Counties. The partnership between the Courtesy Council and our agency has proven to be invaluable to the children that we serve every year”. xxx
Nathan Littauer combines forces with Dolbey to provide state-of-the- art clinical documentation Posted on November 22, 2011 by Dakota PikeFaster reports equates to improved patient care.Nathan Littauer has a new way to document patient diagnostic exams. “The end product will be faster imaging documentation- which in the end benefits our patients” stated Judy Cetnar, Director of Health Information Management for the hospital. She explained, “Front-end speech recognition will enable us to provide faster Diagnostic Imaging report turnaround time which leads to improved patient care. It will also decrease transcription costs for our facility.”Nathan Littauer will implement Dolbey’s Fusion Expert for front-end speech recognition and document management across their facilities and will be used by about 20 Radiologists. Susan Kiernan, Vice President of Development at the hospital notes, “This is yet one more technology advancement we have done in the interest of seamless patient care.”XXX 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 located in Gloversville, NY. Littauer provides the finest in state-of-the-art technology and a caring, dedicated staff of health care professionals. Over the years, the hospital has expanded its services in order offer health care that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities we serve. The Littauer medical staff brings amazing technical expertise and competence to the residents of Fulton County and the surrounding communities.About Dolbey: Dolbey is a leader in providing dictation, transcription, speech recognition and coding solutions for healthcare in the United States and Canada. Together, Dolbey and Company, Inc. and Dolbey Systems, Inc. offer the award winning Fusion Suite™ of integrated products which is backed by the industry’s largest organization of certified professionals who assist in design, implementation and support. XXX
At Littauer a lullaby announces a new bundle of joy Posted on November 16, 2011August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeHospital plays 20 seconds of Brahms Lullaby each time a baby is bornAt Nathan Littauer Hospital when Brahms’ Lullaby plays over the hospital’s loud speakers, it is a cause for celebration. In a new program started this week, when a baby is born in the hospital’s Birthing Center, Brahms’ Lullaby is broadcast throughout the hospital. “It is a good reminder to us all that miracles happen almost every day” stated Hospital Spokesperson, Cheryl McGrattan.Kelly Hartz, RN Manager of the Birthing Center is credited with starting the program.On November 2, 2011, the second day of the new initiative, guests, patients and staff were treated to three lullabies announcing three births. The hospital averages about 430 births a year. Nathan Littauer Hospital joins other hospitals across the nation adopting the lullaby program.“Unfortunately, most hospitals are associated with fear, pain and discomfort.” said Kelly Hartz, RN who is credited with starting the program. As the manager of the Birthing Center, she notes, “This program reminds people- staff included- that a hospital can also be a place of hope and promise.” The brief few measures from the German composer Johannes Brahms’ famous melody has already had a lasting effect on staff. Barbara Wilson, HR Generalist for 31 years at Nathan Littauer Hospital said she was elated to hear it explaining, “It was very uplifting and very nice to hear.” It is the first time the hospital has announced a birth in this way. Priscilla Person, who works in Diagnostic Imaging was in a patient waiting room when the first lullaby was played. She reported that the patient broke into a huge smile when she explained what the song meant. She also added, “It gives you the best warmest feeling. I think it is great.”The calming 20 seconds can be heard throughout the hospital hallways, lobbies, surgical units, laboratory, waiting rooms, cafeterias and patient rooms. When patients and visitors hear the lullaby, nearby staff explain the interruption. “I am thrilled that this has come to our facility. I think it reconnects everyone, both staff, patients and visitors, with our purpose of facilitating life changes that our patients transition through.” stated Kathie Rohrs, RN a nurse at Littauer. She concluded, “It is truly a beautiful symbolic touch that will cause us all to self reflect.”The Birthing Center At Littauer will play music when a baby is bornThe system can be overridden in the event of an emergency and music will play from 7am to 7pm. And staff and patients will definitely know when twins are born — the music will play twice in succession.
