Shopping local? Find a gem in the Adirondacks Posted on December 16, 2011August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeSHOPPING LOCAL? DON’T FORGET ABOUT NATHAN LITTAUER Gifts for the holiday seasonConsider Littauer for your gift giving.Gloversville, NY…Nathan Littauer Hospital is reminding people who want to “shop locally” to consider Nathan Littauer Hospital for their last- minute holiday shopping. Besides providing excellent health care services, the hospital is also a shopping and eating destination. “The hospital gift shop, run by our Auxilians is a perfect place to shop!” explained Susan McNeil Director of Volunteer Services for the hospital. “Our Auxilians Ann Adore, Chairman, Dianne James, Assistant Chairman, and Stacey White, Schedule Chairman have done an outstanding job with our hospital gift shop this year.” Sue McNeil stated, “Ann Adore would love you to see the wonderful variety of gifts, cards, toys, infant clothing, jewelry and candy.” The hospital also carries holiday flower arrangements.Terry A. Swierzowski, Interim President, Director of Tourism & Communications Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry agrees noting, “They have an excellent selection of jewelry and other gifts. I personally shop there.” “I think our gift shop is the best kept secret in the region” stated Susan Kiernan Vice President of Development at Nathan Littauer Hospital. “When I get a compliment on a handbag or a piece of jewelry people always seem surprised when I tell them where I got it.”The gift shop hours are Monday through Friday 10am to 4pm and on weekends from 11am to 3pm. Questions about hours can be directed to 773-5408. Sample photos of the inventory at the gift shop can be found on the hopsital FaceBook site. The shop is offering 30% of all Christmas-related items.The hospital Nutritional Services team is also selling holiday pies. “For $8.99 people can get a high-rise Dutch apple, blueberry, chocolate cream or lemon meringue pie.” stated Tim Forte, Nutrition Services Director. They are also selling holiday cookie assortments for $4.99. Orders must be made by Wednesday, December 21, for pick-up Thursday or Friday. People interested in ordering a pie can call 773-5415 or they can stop by Nate‘s Place (the cafeteria) and fill out an order form with the cashier.“The gift shop at Littauer is a find!”Ms. Kiernan advises “Visit a friend in the hospital or nursing home, stay for lunch or dinner and pick up a gift WITH free gift wrapping, and bring home a pie for your holiday meal -all the while avoiding holiday crowds.” She added, “We always have secure parking and all our proceeds go to the hospital. It does not get more local than that.” XXX Caption for photo: Holiday gifts abound at Nathan Littauer Hospital.
Spirit of giving hits Nathan Littauer Posted on December 15, 2011August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeEmployees step up to give over 500 holiday gifts to those in need“We have been very good this year” jokes Kelly Colby when people walk into the Development Office to see a sea of Christmas presents covering every square inch of space, rising at least 3 feet tall. Actually, the gifts are destined to local families in need, and the secret shopping elves are Nathan Littauer employees. The “Gingerbread Project”, born out of Nathan Littauer Hospital has been providing gifts to local children since 1994. This year the hospital took on more children- helping 55 local children. “We knew this was going to be a hard year for people, stated Ms. Colby, a Development Coordinator at the hospital who heads up the Gingerbread Project at Littauer. “And we are so moved by the EXTRA generosity of our employees this year.” She added, “Our team understands that local families are hurting this year and wanted to make sure kids still had a happy Christmas. It makes me so proud to be a Littauer employee.”Hospital employees Kelly Colby and Maggie Luck help with the Gingerbread ProjectThe Gingerbread Project coordinates efforts through Fulmont Community Action Agency. Denis Wilson Executive Director of Fulmont Community Action Agency stated, “Once again this year the employees of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home came through to assist our agency in helping the less fortunate in our communities. The efforts of NLH show the level of commitment that they have to helping the community. These employees have brightened the holidays for many who would otherwise go without.”Presents bound for needy familiesNamed the Gingerbread Project after the gingerbread cut outs that hang outside the cafeteria, the initiative is totally voluntary. Employees each choose a name and shop for a local child in need. Kelly notes, “Many times there are crowds around the gingerbread cutouts as employees gather to choose names and to discuss their plans.” Employees will frequently send notes to Kelly thanking her for the opportunity to give to others and explaining how much they look forward to the program.The program is a completely anonymous. Recipients of the gifts are never known and the names of the givers are not provided. Kelly explained, “We get to be Santa to a child we do not know, but we do know our efforts brighten their Christmas as well as our own.”“Whether it is giving to our hospital or to the community, our employees step up top the plate.” stated Susan Kiernan Vice President of Development. She added, “This year was an extraordinary year for employee generosity”. Hospital employees raised money for the hospital Foundation, raised money through the Kozy Coat program to buy outerwear for children and donated 110 cleaned, gently-worn coats to children in the area, helped people who were impacted by the floods and also cleaned local roads in their adopt-a-highway program. During the holidays, hospital employees also adopt all 84 nursing home residents. That way every resident gets a gift on Christmas morning.And people seem to notice. From time to time, past family recipients of the Gingerbread Project have written notes and letters to the hospital. One mother who received gifts from the Gingerbread Project wrote, “Thank you so much for helping to make Christmas something wonderful again for my son and I. This was a long hard year for my son and I but (the next year) is looking bright.” Another wrote, “Thanks for putting happy faces on my two kids. Thank you for everything. You really make a difference in their lives.”Most of the gifts were picked up today from the hospital bound for families. The agency needs a truck to pick up all the gifts. Ms. Colby reflects, “Every year the generosity of the Littauer employees amazes me. It just goes to show – at Littauer we not only give great care… we also care greatly….”
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
